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The Mandarin’s Dublin Racing Festival Racecard for Sunday 2nd February 2025

The Mandarin’s Dublin Racing Festival Racecard for Sunday 2nd February
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy And Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 12.40
Cottesloe Sunshine
There’s plenty that appeal for Sunday’s opener, but Cottesloe Sunshine looks to be on a good mark for her handicap debut. She showed a good attitude to get upsides of Beauforts Storm at Thurles the last day, and has this trip well withing her range. British raider Queens Gamble from Harry Derham’s improving yard does look a danger after a fine run in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury, while Willie Mullins only sends out one, Clonmel winner Straight Home, so is also noted. Cottesloe Sunshine to take advantage of this mark and score on her first run in a handicap.
Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Grade 1) 1.10
Impaire Et Passe (nap)
What a race is in store for the first of the Grade One’s on Sunday’s card. With the three-time Grade One winner, Ballyburn, going head to head against stablemate Impaire Et Passe, there’ll be no hiding place in this brilliant duel. The ready preference is for Impaire Et Passe, who has made a seamless transition to fences after wins at Fairyhouse and the Grade One Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick. Ballyburn was no match was the exuberant Sir Gino in the Wayward Lad at Kempton over Christmas, but given time can be just as good over fences as he was over timber. Croke Park is three from three over fences, and completes the shortlist despite this being on the sharp side, but Impaire Et Passe is the one to beat.
Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 1.40
Bleu De Vassy
This is one Grade One that might be out of Willie Mullins reach, as Gordon Elliott’s Bleu De Vassey lines up for the Cullentra yard. Although he was no match for the exciting Romeo Coolio over course and distance at the Christmas meeting, that was the Future Champions Grade One, and returned to softer going, Bleu De Vassy is sure to be right on the money. That said, hot favourite Kopek Des Bordes did look one out of the top drawer when scoring here on St Stephen’s Day, but Bleu De Vassy gets our vote.
Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (Grade 1) 2.10
Gaelic Warrior
Although Gaelic Warrior is such a short price for this Grade One, it’s a closer race than the odds suggest. Stablemate El Fabiolo won this race last year, but things didn’t go according to plan in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival when sprawling on landing at the fifth and quickly pulled up. However, he’s classy enough on his day to win at this level so has to be in the frame, while Solness has form over Gaelic Warrior from the Christmas meeting, though it was the selection’s first run of this campaign. Barry Connell’s Marine Nationale was only a three-quarter length behind Gaelic Warrior in that race so also has to enter calculations, having long promised much over fences. The final verdict has to go to Gaelic Warrior, although at a skinny price considering the quality of the opposition. A four way spread on a Tricast looks a tempting exotic.

O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2.45
Search For Glory
A typically competitive Handicap where the winner could realistically come from any of the top ten in the betting, but we’ll plump for Search For Glory. His first campaign over fences is going well enough, and third behind Impaire Et Passe in the Grade One Faugheen Novice Chase is solid form to bring to the table, after going close in the Grade 2 Florida Pearl at Punchestown. Search For Glory’s opening mark of 144 may prove to be lenient on his first run in handicap company, so that’s where we’ll stick our pin.
Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 3.20
Lossiemouth (nb)
The only runner not out of the Closutton yard is Gordon Elliott’s Fils D’oudairies at around 80/1 in this Willie Mullins show. Realistically, there’s only dual winner State Man and Lossiemouth to decide on here, and it’s perhaps State Man that has more to prove this term after a 31 length drubbing by Brighterdaysahead over course and distance at the Christmas meeting. Lossiemouth couldn’t stay with a rejuvenated Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park the last day, but is the second best 2 mile hurdler on either side of the Irish Sea in our opinion. Lossiemouth to ruin State Man’s hat-trick bid, with Winter Fog keeping them both honest in behind.
Timeless Sash Windows Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 3.50
Storm Heart
Last season’s Triumph Hurdle fifth makes his handicap debut, and every chance it could be a winning one from a mark of 140. Paul Townend is in the chair, and can add one more to the tally in what will have been a fantastic weekend in Foxrock, while Gordon Elliott’s pair Relieved Of Duties and The Enabler both likely to go close. Emmet Mullins does well in these big handicaps, so McLaurey could be well placed, while Charles Brynes’s Brave Troop has garnered plenty of support this week with Alex Harvey’s 5lb claim a useful offset. Winner to come from one of these, but Storm Heart gets the big tick.
Coolmore N.H. Sires Luxembourg Irish EBF Mares I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2) 4.25
Future Prospect
Willie Mullins can cap off a brilliant weekend his his Order Of St George mare, Future Prospect. She certainly lived up to her name on her debut under rules at Fairyhouse the last day, forging 9 lengths clear, and she can keep up the yard’s excellent record in this race. Carrigmoornaspruce rates the main danger as she looks to claim the hat-trick, while Cameletta Vega is beautifully bred and looks a fascinating each-way angle. Future Prospect to deliver one last Hurrah for the dominant Closutton yard.
The Mandarin
