#Dublin Racing Festival

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend after Impaire Et Passe won on his hurdling debut at Naas in December Impaire Et Passe was cut for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle over 2m and the longer Ballymore Novices' Hurdle over 2m5f after impressing at Punchestown. Which race at the festival do our experts favour? If he were mine it would be the Supreme…

The five-year-old was sent off the 1/3 favourite for Sunday's Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle on the back of a wide-margin Irish debut win in a Naas maiden during December. Supporters of Willie Mullins' son of Diamond Boy didn't have much to worry about throughout the two-mile contest, Paul Townend pushing the 1/3 favourite out to a six and a…

Flying high: Paul Townend manages to hold on to Flame Bearer at the last fence Saturday: Fairyhouse The Foley family will be forever associated with Danoli and the late Tom's final winner was Rebel Gold at Gowran Park in 2021. Fast-forward almost two years and the same horse gave son Pat the biggest day since the training baton was handed over when…

By Andrew Asquith, Saturday 14 January 2023 Posted in: Cheltenham Festival Tips Andrew Asquith looks ahead to the 2023 Stayers' Hurdle and picks out his best ante-post bet. At this stage the Stayers' Hurdle looks wide open and that is reflected by the betting with most firms going 5/1 the field. The obvious place to start is with one of the…

Barra could be the value in a really competitive Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarraig Lady Francis Flood Mares' Handicap chase on Day Four of the Punchestown Festival today. Gordon Elliott's mare was a progressive handicap hurdler last season. She finished second in the Paddy Mullins mares' handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival at…

IT was just after 9pm last night when the racing world briefly went into meltdown as Davy Russell's astonishing return was confirmed. Only 23 days earlier, after riding one final - final at that time, at least - winner, he was back. A two-time Grand National hero, a man who doesn't suffer fools gladly, a man Elliott still needed. Russell released a…

Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore will aim to bounce back from her first defeat at Fairyhouse to win a fourth consecutive Irish Champion Hurdle This year's Dublin Racing Festival looks set to play host to a star-studded line-up after early entries for the two-day Irish calendar highlight at Leopardstown were revealed on Thursday. Eight Grade 1s…

Kilmaley native, Richard O'Brien, came in for lavish praise following the success of Paul Nolan's well-fancied newcomer, Cut The Rope (5/1), in the concluding four-year-old bumper at Naas on Sunday. O'Brien is a very successful trainer based in Ballingarry, County Limerick and it was on his advice that the Nolan camp purchased Cut The Rope, before…

Okay, it wouldn't be quite as dramatic as Lester Piggott at the 1990 Breeders' Cup. "I have decided to come out of retirement and ride for the short period while Jack [Kennedy] is on the sidelines," Russell said in his statement. But, with Kennedy breaking his leg for a fifth time at Naas on Sunday, the Cheltenham Festival, just two months away,…

Nicky Henderson's Jonbon was safely tucked away in his Seven Barrows box at Christmas but he still got some festive cheer when Boothill won the Wayward Lad at Kempton. Before that boost - he had easily seen off Harry Fry's horse in the Henry VIII at Sandown - his chasing form had little substance to it (in terms of what he had beaten), even if he…

I MUST admit my heart skipped a beat when I noticed that EPATANTE was entered only for the Champion Hurdle and not the Mares' event at the Cheltenham Festival. Trainer Nicky Henderson quickly admitted it was an oversight but that didn't stop the former winner's odds being cut to as short as 16s when we're on at 50s. Hopefully it's indicative of the…

The Churchill gelding was a neck superior to Dixon Cove in the Grade Two event at Chepstow over Christmas. The JP McManus-owned four-year-old had previously finished third at Fairyhouse to Triumph Hurdle favourite Lossiemouth, who subsequently franked that form by winning a Grade Two at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. The Owning Hill handler is keen to…

BET365 are offering non-runner no bet on all races at this year's Cheltenham Festival as the excitement for the jump-racing showpeice gathers pace. This means that the number of NRNB races increases significantly - generally, only the five championship races offer this feature, which are the Gold Cup, Stayers Hurdle, Champion Chase, Champion…

The week just gone over jumps was a welcome pause after the unrelenting Christmas and New Year action, but it has nevertheless thrown up several Festival clues in the last few years. The feature event at Sandown, the Unibet Tolworth Hurdle, has gone to subsequent Sky Bet Supreme winners Constitution Hill and Summerville Boy in recent seasons, while…

Run Wild Fred: declared for the BetVictor Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan on Sunday Leading National Hunt Chase contender Run Wild Fred is set to clash with high-class stablemate Farouk D'Alene at Navan this Sunday after featuring among declarations for the Grade 2 BetVictor Ten Up Novice Chase (4.05). Trainer Gordon Elliott had indicated earlier this…

The weekend's action at Leopardstown provided further pointers towards the Cheltenham Festival with plenty of movers in the betting markets ahead of the four-day extravaganza at Prestbury Park in March. Who are the big movers following the sixth renewal of the Dublin Racing Festival? We've taken a look at their impact on the big Grade Ones…

1pt win Stattler in Cheltenham Gold Cup at 14/1 (General) I unashamedly find it quite hard to take the plunge when it comes to antepost bets on the Cheltenham Festival. If you believe what you read elsewhere then the real value is only on offer around September/October time the previous year and there is, of course, a modicum of truth in…

It was another fantastic festive period of equine action as Leopardstown and Limerick took centre stage at the end of December. Not surprisingly, Kilkenny trainer Willie Mullins continued to dominate the training sphere over the days after Christmas as he saddled 16 winners, of which were five Grade 1's. In total Mullins had 73 runners over the…

Racing expert Kevin Blake was the toast of many punters yesterday when his three selections won at the Cheltenham Festival. Blake picked Mrs Milner (12/1) in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle, Telmesomethinggirl (6/1) in the Mares' Novice Hurdle and Mount Ida (9/2) in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase. One punter from Waterford wagered a €20 each-way treble…

Thursday marks the third day of the Punchestown Festival and there's another stellar offering, with two Grade 1 races and some extremely competitive handicaps on the card. The Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at 5.25pm is the feature event on an eight-race card (3.40-7.35) and our tipster has selections for every race at the Co Kildare…

A NEW kid on the block has emerged as the main danger to Constitution Hill at Cheltenham. Nicky Henderson's wonder horse is as short as 2-7 for the Champion Hurdle and notched his fourth straight Grade 1 win at Kempton on Boxing Day. Opposition towards him at the Festival in March was looking very thin on the ground, especially with Honeysuckle…

Paisley Park is absolutely flying at the moment and he was brilliant in his win at Kempton, where I thought he might struggle. The Stayers' looks wide-open, and he's an interesting player at a double-figure price, despite his advancing years. I think that the strength of the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown was questionable. Home By The Lee, of…

There are thousands of races in Britain and Ireland each year but it is not always the ones you might expect that prove most popular when it comes to watching the action back. This year's top five most-watched replays on racingpost.com include jump and Flat races, with everything from the Derby to the Irish Arkle covered. With the season's leading…

Though still in its relative infancy, the two-day Dublin Racing Festival on Saturday and Sunday has become a huge part of the Irish jump-racing scene already. The Leopardstown meeting takes place in early February and has fast become an all-guns-blazing dress rehearsal for the Cheltenham Festival for some of Ireland's leading National Hunt…

Constitution Hill takes another lazy roll on his comfy bedding, his tenth of the year so far and it's not yet nine in the morning on New Year's Day. Back on his feet he ambles over to the open half-door of his stable and gazes on the yard outside. Nicky Henderson's third lot are assembling in front of him, the younger geldings nattering excitedly…

Saturday sees the 174th running of the Grand National at Aintree. The Charlie Longsdon-trained Snow Leopardess heads the betting but here we run through the entire field, in order of allotted weight. 1) MINELLA TIMES (Henry de Bromhead) Rating (out of 10) 6, weight 11st 10lbs Created history for Rachael Blackmore last year but he has only run twice…

Dan Sheridan/INPHOCould State Man give Constitution Hill a race at Cheltenham? # The Challenger Champion Hurdle still a live event with State Man set to give Constitution Hill a crack Johnny Ward reports from another Willie Mullins-dominated final day at Leopardstown. WE HAVE SEEN this week that Willie Mullins saddling the first three home in a…

State Man continued his march towards a likely clash with Constitution Hill at the Cheltenham Festival in March with a comprehensive victory in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown. Nicky Henderson's Constitution Hill is long odds-on to lift the Champion Hurdle crown in March following his latest demolition job in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on…

Gaillard Du Mesnil: clears a fence on the way to Grade 1 win at Leopardstown Thursday: Neville Hotels Novice Chase, Leopardstown Willie Mullins believes Gaillard Du Mesnil would have little difficulty excelling over the National Hunt Chase distance, after his high-class six-year-old picked the perfect moment to make his breakthrough over fences in…

Shewearsitwell provided Willie Mullins with a sixth victory in the last seven runnings of the BeattheBank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown. Two subsequent Cheltenham Festival heroines in Let's Dance and Concertista are among the champion trainer's recent winners of the Grade Three contest and Shewearsitwell was actually sent off favourite…

Nicky Henderson's Constitution Hill is long odds-on to lift the Champion Hurdle crown in March following his latest demolition job in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day. And while connections of the unbeaten five-year-old are unlikely to be quaking in their boots, State Man gave further evidence he may well prove his biggest threat with…

It was a shame Edwardstone unseated Tom Cannon at the fifth in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton. He had been brilliant in the Tingle Creek and this was supposed to be further evidence that he's ready to have a real crack at Energumene in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Alas, it wasn't to be, but at least he returned unscathed and the Champion…

Conflated put himself firmly in the Cheltenham Gold Cup picture with a dominant success in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown. The Gordon Elliott-trained eight-year-old was a surprise winner of the Irish Gold Cup over the course and distance last season and went on to run well before falling two from home in Cheltenham's Ryanair Chase before pushing…

Home By The Lee proved his surprise victory at Navan last month was no fluke with a battling success in the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown. Joseph O'Brien's charge was a widely unconsidered 28-1 shot for the Grade Two Lismullen Hurdle in mid-November, but knuckled down to see off the strong-travelling Bob Olinger, with Ashdale…

On only two occasions in the past decade has either Gordon Elliott or Willie Mullins failed to win this top-level prize, a race that has been won in that time by the likes of Carlingford Lough, Don Poli, Our Duke, Shattered Love, Delta Work and Monkfish. Ireland's two powerhouse trainers come to the fore once again, with Mullins' sole…

Blue Lord: an impressive winner on his switch back to 2m at Leopardstown Blue Lord looks set to be trained for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase after beating the two-milers at their own game in an impressive victory at Leopardstown on Tuesday. Simon Munir and Isaac Souede's seven-year-old had scored over 2m4f at Clonmel on his reappearance…

The outstanding performer in the bumper sphere last season with wins at the Dublin Racing Festival, the Cheltenham Festival and the Punchestown Festival, the five-year-old made a smooth transition to the jumping game at Fairyhouse earlier in the month. Returning to Grade One level, the son of Walk In The Park and six-time Cheltenham Festival…

Blue Lord emerged as a potential threat to Queen Mother Champion Chase-winning stablemate Energumene following an impressive success in the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown. The seven-year-old was in the top rank of novice chasers last season for Willie Mullins, with Grade One wins at Leopardstown and Punchestown sandwiching a third place…

The Paddy Power Chase eluded Willie Mullins but nothing else on Tuesday's card at Leopardstown did as the champion trainer recorded a remarkable 102-1 six-timer. It was not a first for the trainer who has achieved almost everything the sport can ask - he did likewise on April 25, 2018, at Punchestown - but the only surprise was the fact he fell…

The 1/7 favourite was making it five from five over timber and landing his fourth Grade One with another near flawless display. Highway One O Two set out to make all and kept the market leader company to the home turn before he was passed by last year's winner and stablemate Epatante. But Nico De Boinville went through the gears aboard Constitution…

Full results from day two of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown. Honeysuckle, Galopin Des Champs and Sir Gerhard were among the favourites to win on Sunday's card Five horses, including winner Lily Du Berlais (green), race for the winning post at Leopardstown Several bookmakers were saved from a seven-figure payout as a 40-1 outsider took…

Once 5-2 favourite for last year's Derby, High Definition now finds himself among the top six in the betting for this season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle after staying on resolutely to make a winning hurdles debut for Joseph O'Brien. Nearly seven months to the day that he was narrowly denied a Group 1 victory on the Flat by Alenquer in the Tattersalls…

Laszlo Geczo/INPHOA view of the tribute to Davy Russell during the Leoparstown Races today. # expert view Johnny Ward: Crowds return, Mullins lands treble and JP McManus tactics key The first day of the four-day extravaganza was dominated by the champion trainer. Updated at 19.50 AFTER TWO YEARS of this Festival with no crowds, little surprise…

One-time Derby favourite High Definition made a successful start to his jumping career in the opening race of the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown. The Galileo colt looked every inch a Classic contender in the making after charging home to win the Beresford Stakes as a two-year-old, but had failed to get his head in front in 12 subsequent…

Saint Roi and Lossiemouth were the highlights of a sparkling Willie Mullins treble at Leopardstown on Monday. The former came from last to first to open his account over fences in the Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase at Leopardstown. Fourth in the Irish Champion Hurdle, the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Punchestown Champion Hurdle…

PAISLEY PARK is tipped to regain his Stayers' Hurdle crown in the feature race of day three at the Cheltenham Festival. The 2019 hero is back to his Grade 1 best this season and he can lift the Paddy Power-sponsored prize for jockey Aidan Coleman, trainer Emma Lavelle and owner Andrew Gemmell. Coleman was thrilled yesterday when Put The Kettle On…

Paisley Park should enjoy a victory stroll in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (3.30) at Cheltenham today. Emma Lavelle's star captured Thursday's feature race 12 months ago and returns to the Festival on the back of a seven-race winning streak. "He's done everything right - he's barely foot a put wrong - and hopefully we can do it again," said the…

Ruby Walsh expects three of the Cheltenham Festival'bankers' to win at the March meeting. They are key runners for Nicky Henderson, Henry de Bromhead and Willie Mullins Cheltenham legend Ruby Walsh has nominated Honeysuckle as the horse he'd like to ride if he was still competing. The Champion Hurdle favourite won the 2021 renewal and remains…