Dublin Racing Festival 2023

Previous winners of the Grade 2 mares’ bumper, which closes out the card on the Sunday, include Relegate who went on to win the Champion Bumper subsequently in 2018 and Grangee in 2021. Last year's winner, Lily Du Berlais, is also in this year's entries, and is currently priced at 11/4. The market is currently being headed by the Willie Mullins-trained Fancy Girl (11/8) who was a very impressive Cork bumper winner. Justifying odds-on favouritism on the day, the chestnut mare looked good in this race, and taking the form line through the horse was third on the day, she is justifiably slightly ahead of current second favourite: the Jessica Harrington-trained Marie Philippe (5/2). This horse, by Flemensfirth and out of French Grade 1-winning chaser Fleur D'Ainay, seems to be a very well bred mare. Considering this, and added to her trainer’s record with these types of horses, market support is not surprising. However, to me, her win at Fairyhouse didn’t look visually as eye-catching as Fancy Girl’s. 

Another interesting runner here is BOLD REFLECTION who has drifted slightly in the market today, currently at around 9/1. Her seven-length defeat of Coole Cherry at Limerick on Stephen’s Day is, on the face of it, an impressive piece of form, as Coole Cherry has close form lines with Halka Du Tarbet and by extension other very impressive mares in Jetara and Ashroe Diamond. This may be being a bit too simplistic, and one also has to consider that her jockey on the day of her win at Limerick claimed seven pounds. I don’t know who will take the ride on Sunday, but to me, she could still represent some each way value at her current price, and I'm willing to take a chance on her. 

From reading my original post back, I feel I skimmed over Lily Du Berlais too quickly which was remiss of me, as she is indeed another extremely interesting runner here. First of all, it’s unique to see a horse aim to win a bumper two years in a row. I don’t think the horse has had any setbacks; it just seems as though the owners have decided to aim her at this race again before she starts her hurdling career. Last year, this horse caused an upset in winning at odds of 40/1 by a nose in a blanket finish. There were some very good mares in behind her that day including some of this year’s leading mares’ novice hurdlers such as Ashroe Diamond and Liberty Dance. Her second place behind Jetara in her only appearance so far this season in a Navan bumper in November may well be one of the best pieces of form of all the horses heading into this year’s renewal, also. She came from off the pace that day, as appears to be her style, and travelled strongly towards the finish to within a length-and-a-quarter to Jetara who subsequently finished second to High Definition and Ashroe Diamond over hurdles at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse respectively. She has been backed already for Sunday’s race, from 5/1 to 11/4 currently, and it’s certainly clear to see the rationale as to why.

1:20 – Weveallbeencaught 4/1

1:55 – Lossiemouth 4/11 (multiples)

2:30 – El Fabiolo 6/1 e/w

3:05 – Galopin Des Champs 1/3 (multiples)

3:40 – Freedom To Dream 20/1 e/w

4:10 ­– Jody Ted 33/1 e/w

4:40 – Better Days Ahead 7/2

Not looking to over complicate things in trying to take on Lossiemouth or Galopin Des Champs, but not looking to get too stuck in at the prices either, bar maybe putting them in small multiples. Races to enjoy, are are most tomorrow! 

1:20 – This looks very competitive. Good Land’s form looks solid and Willie Mullins’ runner, Quais De Paris, is somewhat of unknown quantity, really. We have seen in the past how Willie can produce these lightly-raced French recruits, but his Tramore run doesn’t exactly seem to jump off the page. However, an entry like this always has to be treated with the utmost of respect from these connections. But the English raider WEVEALLBWENCAUGHT could also have a say in proceedings. The fact that the Twiston-Davies’ are bringing him over here tells us they must have confidence in this expensively-purchased point winner, and his win over Rock My Way was backed up with him going on to win at Cheltenham trials day last week. 

 2:30 – There looks to be very little between the three Mullins runners Appreciate It, Dysart Dynamo and EL FABIOLO on form and ratings. However, the latter’s second-place finish to Jonbon at Aintree last year could still be the standout piece of form from the three, even though it could be said that Jonbon was tired at the end of a hard season. The jockey bookings may point to Appreciate It being the better horse, and he has a lofty reputation of course, but on the basis of their form figures overall, I think I’ll chance El Fabiolo at the bigger price in what should be a cracker of a race.

3:40 – Looking for something at a slightly bigger price, I will take a chance on FREEDOM TO DREAM, as mentioned in a previous post in this tread also. This horse had some decent graded novice hurdle form over intermediate trips, and he finished fourth in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham last year. This was followed up with a disappointing run at Punchestown and he comes here after an unsuccessful stint over fences. Stepping up in trip here and back over the smaller obstacles, I’m hoping this horse might rediscover some of the talent we have seen glimpses of in the past. 

4:10 – This looks like a very tricky race to read from a betting perspective. A Wave Of The Sea could again be the answer going for a hat trick of wins in this race. In looking for something at a bigger price, JODY TED’S run at Clonmel in December was interesting. The race fell into his hands with a faller at the second last hampering his two other rivals but he was travelling well and looked like the winner at that stage of the race regardless. He disappointed in a novice chase in Limerick next time out and pulled up lame at Fairyhouse last month. If he comes out OK from that, he could be worth a punt at small stakes at 33/1. 

4:40 – Really looking forward to this race. I’ve written about it earlier in the thread, and I’ll be hoping BETTER DAYS AHEAD can get the job done here in what looks like an intriguing contest.

13:10— Risk Belle 11/4

15:10 — Vauban 5/1 e/w

16:10 — Gaelic Warrior 5/4

15:40 — Lily Du Berlais 5/2

I haven’t been able to look through today’s cards in as much detail, so I will pass on a few of the races. From a quick look though I think that RISK BELLE and GAELIC WARRIOR are very interesting in the handicap hurdles at 1:10 and 4:10 respectively. The former has run creditably behind Lossiemouth in her only two Irish starts to date, both in graded races, after two wins in France, so chance is taken that she could be better handicapped than a few of the others here. Same rationale for the lightly-raced Gaelic Warrior who should go very close. Mighty Potter looks another solid favourite, and Blue Lord is virtually unbackable at 1/4.

My main bet of the day will be on LILY DU BERLAIS in the bumper. Interesting to see Patrick opt for Fun Fun Fun, and Marie Philippe could be potentially very smart, but Lily Du Berlais’s second behind Jetara is a very good piece of from coming here where she’s looking to win this race for a second year in a row. 

The Champion Hurdle should be fascinating! State Man could well prove today that he’s far superior than his rivals, but I’d be inclined to forgive Honeysuckle’s last run and I certainly wouldn’t write off her chances. I don’t think State Man was wildly impressive last time out at Christmas, and the horse in second place that day, VAUBAN, was notable on his season reappearance. I think he can only have come on for that on his first step out of the juvenile ranks, and he will be my small bet in the race at 5/1 e/w.

I didn’t get to watch a lot of the racing this weekend, but it seemed to be another brilliant weekend. I must try and go next year all going well. I hope to watch a lot of the races back over the coming days, and the countdown to Cheltenham is now on in earnest!

A lot of bubbles burst today, most notably Facile Vega and Blue Lord of course, and I guess Appreciate It over 2m yesterday. Shame to see a horse’s apparent air of invincibility taken away, but as Willie alluded to, these horses aren’t machines! We saw that with Honeysuckle also. It would be great to see her go and give the mares’ hurdle a go as a swansong, but I can see the rationale behind retiring her as well if they go that route.

I was gutted Lily Du Berlais couldn’t get the job done today, but Munir and Souede have some team of bumper horses! It’s For Me has more company at the top of the market of what’s a very open Champion Bumper. I was disappointed we didn’t get to see Better Days Ahead in the end. Does anyone know why he and, if I’m not mistaken, all the Morans’ horses were taken out yesterday?