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Grading the Grade 1 Winners at the Dublin Racing Festival – The Irish Angle with Donal Murphy

Few weekends in Irish racing can match the excitement of the Dublin Racing Festival. After a terrific weekend of jumps action, GG’s Irish Angle columnist Donal Murphy analyses all, and runs the rule over the Grade 1 winners.

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The Week That Was

While he claimed all eight Grade 1s 12-months ago and a Grade 2 to boot, Willie Mullins was slightly less dominant at this year’s Dublin Racing Festival. The master of Closutton saddled seven winners in total over the weekend, with six Grade 1 prizes returning to his Co. Carlow base.

Gavin Cromwell and Joseph O’Brien scooped the other top-level heats, with the former registering three winners from just nine runners.

The wily Emmet Mullins landed two valuable handicaps on Sunday, while Gordon Elliott and Henry De Bromhead surprisingly drew a blank.

Based on their performance and the likelihood of a follow-up win at Cheltenham, a mark has been assigned below to each Grade 1 winner over the weekend.

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (A+)

You’d like to think the deafening roars from the packed enclosures helped carry this true champion home. Registering his third straight win in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, the brilliant nine-year-old made virtually all under Paul Townend. While Galopin Des Champs had a whole host of challengers right on his tail approaching the final fence, he pulled out more on the run-in and ultimately won going away. Barring an accident, it’s difficult to see him being denied in his quest for an historic third straight win in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham next month.  

BALLYBURN (A+)

While firmly put in his place by Sir Gino over two miles at Kempton, Ballyburn got back to winning ways in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase. While a bit keen under Paul Townend, he clearly appreciated the step back up in trip, digging deep away from the last to beat Croke Park by an ever-extending five lengths. Now set for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, he’ll be hard to beat.

FINAL DEMAND (A+)

A massive €230,000 purchase as an unraced three-year-old, this well-bred Walk In The Park six-year-old was mightily impressive in the Nathaniel Lacy Solicitors Novice Hurdle. Nicely positioned behind the leaders on the rail, Final Demand was switched to the outer to challenge approaching the straight. Sent to the front before the last, he readily drew clear on the run-in and had 12-lengths to spare at the line. Now favourite for both the Albert Bartlett and the Turners at Cheltenham, it’ll take a very good horse to beat him.  

KOPEK DES BORDES (A)

The widest margin winner of the weekend. Despite racing keenly, for which he loses a mark, under Paul Townend, this French bred five-year-old ultimately eased to a 13-length success. In front after three out, the No Risk At All bay was slightly hampered by a loose horse on the run to the next. Kopek Des Bordes readily increased his advantage from early in the straight and never came off the bridle. Now as short as 11/10 for the Supreme Novices’, it’s growing increasingly difficult to oppose him.    

MAJBOROUGH (A)

While his jumping wasn’t foot perfect, the Triumph Hurdle hero Majborough ultimately eased to a nine-length success in the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase, with his stable companion Ile Atlantique flopping badly. The Cheltenham equivalent now appears a straight match between himself and Sir Gino, with the latter currently odds-on. In truth, it’s difficult to choose between the pair, with a mouthwatering showdown at Prestbury Park now on the horizon.

STATE MAN (B+)

State Man bounced back to winning ways when claiming the Irish Champion Hurdle for the third successive year on Sunday. Hampered and left clear by the fall of main rival Lossiemouth four flights from the finish, the chestnut victor ultimately eased to a six-and-a-half length success. Returning to form following a below par effort at Christmas, the eight-year-old now heads to Prestbury Park on the back of this confidence boosting win, with aforementioned stable companion Lossiemouth also set to join him in the Champion Hurdle field.

HELLO NEIGHBOUR (B+)

In a first-time hood, Hello Neighbour extended his unbeaten record to four in the Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle.On what was just his second start over flights, the Gavin Cromwell-trained bay made good progress from two out and travelled best to lead before the last. Ridden out on the run-in, he came home three-quarters of a length in front of the fast-finishing Galileo Dame, with that one still a maiden over obstacles. Currently third in the market for the Triumph Hurdle, he goes there with every chance.

SOLNESS (B)

Many felt that Solness was given an easy lead in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase. Establishing a clear advantage from the second, the Joseph O’Brien-trained seven-year-old was closed upon by Marine Nationale entering the straight. While he appeared a sitting duck approaching the last, the Danny Mullins-ridden victor pulled out more on the run-in to beat his aforementioned rival by two-lengths. With the Champion Chase now in his sights, he’ll go there with solid each-way claims.

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CROMWELL & MULLINS DOMINATE THE HANDICAPS

Gavin Cromwell and Emmet Mullins claimed five of the six handicaps between them, with Cromwell responsible for the runner-up in the race that evaded the pair.

After the success of Hello Neighbour, Perceval Legallois completed a quick double for Cromwell in the Race And Stay Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle on Saturday. Winning this race for a second time, the JP McManus-owned eight-year-old could now be Grand National bound.

Right down at the bottom of the weights, Cromwell also struck with Backtonormal in the Grade 3 O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase. Ridden by promising conditional Conor Stone Walsh, this well-backed Milan seven-year-old ultimately made a mockery of his initial mark of 130, easing to a three and a quarter length success.

Emmet Mullins registered a double on Sunday, firstly teaming up with cousin Danny to aptly claim the race named in honour of their grandparents, the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy And Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle. On what was her first start for Mullins and Syndicates Racing, Vischio came from off the pace to land this valuable prize.

While Danny Mullins later doubled up on Solness, Emmet also struck again with McLaurey in the Timeless Sash Windows Handicap Hurdle.

Off an initial mark of 120, the well-backed JP McManus-owned bay was another to benefit from a patient ride. Making steady headway on the outer from the third last, the lightly-raced six-year-old got to the front shortly after the final flight, keeping on well from there to hold off the late surge of Storm Heart and Irish Panther by a length and a head respectively.

WHAT’S COMING UP

An eight-race card takes place at Fairyhouse tomorrow afternoon, with Any Second Now returning to action in the feature.

Twice placed in the Grand National, Ted Walsh’s admirable 13-year-old is one of five declared for the Fairyhouse Easter Festival Rated Chase.

Almost half the age of Any Second Now, Sa Majeste, Fil Dor and Affordale Fury are all likely to have plenty of supporters, while Minella Crooner completes the line-up.

The action moves to Thurles on Thursday, before Naas takes centre stage on Saturday, where the Listed BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase is the feature.

Won by Brighterdaysahead 12-months ago, the Listed Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle is one of seven races down for decision at Navan on Sunday, with the Boyne Hurdle and the Ten Up Novice Chase (both Grade 2 contests) sure to be quality affairs.

ONE TO WATCH

Rushmount (Jonathan Sweeney): In the care of a shrewd Co. Cork based operator, this lightly-raced son of Shirocco, came from off the pace to finish a never nearer fourth in a 25-runner handicap at Leopardstown on Saturday. Subsequently upped 3lb and now on a mark of 129, he still looks ahead of the assessor, with three miles appearing to be his optimum trip.  

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