Best Dublin Racing Festival horse racing bets and expert advice for Sunday
There is another stellar card at Leopardstown on Sunday with four Grade 1 races set to take place.
Willie Mullins has a battalion of runners and has the favourite in each of the Grade 1 contests.
Our expert, Colm Doyle, picks out three runners to focus on, including an each-way selection in one of the handicaps.
Sunday’s tips
- 2.10 Leopardstown - Dinoblue
- 3.20 Leopardstown - Fakir D’oudairies
- 3.50 Leopardstown - Ataboycharlie
2.10 Leopardstown - Dinoblue
El Fabiolo has clear form claims in the Dublin Chase (2.10) but he’s very short in the betting for a horse that can make bad errors and he nearly came down at this meeting last year when belting a fence four from home.
With that in mind, it might be worth taking a chance on one of Mullins’ other runners.
It has to be significant that Mark Walsh has chosen to ride Dinoblue over the likes of Gentleman De Mee, who won this contest last year and another in the J P McManus ownership, Saint Roi.
The mare has looked highly progressive since finishing runner-up at the Festival last year, progressing through the handicap ranks before landing a Grade 3 on her return to action.
She then went on to post another significant career best in a Grade 1 at this venue over the Christmas period.
She jumped notably well that day and while she has a bit to find on official figures, the seven pound mares’ allowance is a major help. If it becomes a test of jumping in the closing stages, she might be capable of coming out on top.
3.20 - Leopardstown Fakir D’oudairies
It’s an ultra competitive renewal of the Grade 3 Handicap Chase that features later on the card and there are a few that have been well backed already.
One that appears to have been completely ignored in the market is the top-weight, Fakir D’oudairies.
He was a Grade 1 winner just under two years ago and also managed to land a Grade 2 last year. He’s come down in the weights since thanks to a few below par performances, but he tends to come good at this time of year and there are a few reasons to think he can go well in this contest.
He shaped like he was in need of his return outing at Cheltenham, where the ground would have been too soft for him, but drying ground is sure to suit this time and all his best form is over this trip.
The yard has been flying in recent weeks with a 33% strike-rate and he looks capable of running a big race at double-figure odds.
3.50 Leopardstown - Ataboycharlie
The following race is also a competitive handicap but one that looks capable of going well is Ataboycharlie.
He shaped with promise in maiden hurdles but took his form to a new level when landing a novice handicap hurdle at this venue on Boxing Day. He beat two rivals in flying form that day.
A 12lb rise may seem harsh given the narrow margin of the win (one and a quarter lengths) but he’s completely unexposed making just his fifth start (second in a handicap) and he won in better style than the distance suggested.
Sunday’s tips
- 2.10 Leopardstown - Dinoblue
- 3.20 Leopardstown - Fakir D’oudairies
- 3.50 Leopardstown - Ataboycharlie
*all odds correct at time of writing
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