Willie Mullins saddles four of the five runners in the Irish Champion Hurdle on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival. This boils down to a Leopardstown clash on Sunday, 2 February between State Man and the mare Lossiemouth with others playing for places.
It’s an eight-race card rounding off this weekend meeting to the south of Dublin. Four of the races are Grade 1s including the Dublin Chase with the supporting card also having three handicaps on it.
There is British interest in both the Paddy And Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle that kicks off the Sunday action and the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle. Rounding off the DRF for another year is a Grade 2 mares only bumper.
As ever, there’s great variety in what you can wager on through horse racing betting sites from Leopardstown. Ante-post markets for the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and other Cheltenham Festival races could well be shaken up by what happens here.
That is where our horse racing experts come in. We asked them for their race by race analysis of all the DRF Sunday action, which you can read in full below.
Dublin Racing Festival 2025 Day 2 Preview – Irish Champion Hurdle Day
12:40 – 2m 2f Paddy And Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle (Listed)
Despite the race carrying the name of his parents, Willie Mullins hasn’t won it yet. Although well-weighted with just 10st 4lb on her back, Straight Home hasn’t race in over 100 days. Gordon Elliott has two wins in the last five editions, however, so may have the answer in hurdling maiden in QUALIMITA.
She bumped into one as short as 4/1 for the Dawn Run when stepped up to this trip around Fairyhouse last time out. Qualimita is a handicap debutante with a mark of just 117, but still very unexposed. Elliott also runs penalised recent Down Royal winner Disco Dancer, but she is tougher to fancy.
Last year’s heroine Brucio is 8lb higher in the weights and JJ Slevin rides Stuart Crawford’s other mare Lily Du Berlais. Both are tricky to catch right. Emmet Mullins new recruit Vischio is another to note following an easy win at Punchestown, while Listed scorer Cottesloe Sunshine and fellow Joseph O’Brien runner Jeaniemacaroney are both in form. Cast A Spell beat the selection at Navan, but is now 2lb worse off.
1:10 – 2m 5.5f Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase
Now tackling the longer distance he excelled at over hurdles, he looks the one to beat. On back form, Impaire Et Passe should have the beating of Champ Kiely, who aged nine looks vulnerable to younger legs. The latter has gone chasing pretty late in his career, but that is due to missing last season.
Elliott has two against the Mullins mounts, but there are no obvious reasons why dropping Long Distance Novice Chase 1-2 Croke Park and Better Days Ahead down in trip will help either. The other two, Arctic Skua and Prairie Dancer, are in their own private battle for the €1,500 sixth place prize.
1:40 – 2m Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle
🚀 He’s useful
Kaid d’Authie does it nicely at @LeopardstownR pic.twitter.com/61sxiaNRaV
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 28, 2024
He may have enough raw ability and speed demonstrated from landing a valuable bumper last term to get away with it, yet looks plenty short enough. At the prices, KAID D’AUTHIE looks worth a wager after making all over further here the last day. Bought out of France from the same race and by the same connections of Majborough, he won more cosily than the official winning margin suggests.
Kaid D’Authie has other stable companions like the mature Redemption Day. Sent hurdling when rising eight, it looks significant that he runs at this level after an usually lengthy career in bumpers. Karafon, Karniquet and Sea Of Sands all need significant improvement on their efforts in this sphere so far to credibly challenge the unexposed pair.
Gigginstown House Stud and Elliott run with Bleu De Vassy out to go one better with Romeo Coolio swerving the Dublin Racing Festival. He finished runner-up in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle over course and distance during Christmas. British raider Good And Clever shapes like he wants to go up in trip for Warren Greatrex, meanwhile.
2:10 – 2m 1f Grade 1 Dublin Chase
More than just a rematch between Solness and Gaelic Warrior from the festive period. The former got too much rope at Christmas when pulling off a 33/1 course and distance shock that day. Solness won’t be given such a soft lead again over Christmas, so he may struggle to confirm form with Gaelic Warrior, who has a mixed record at the home of the Irish Champion Hurdle.
At the prices, the one who appeals most is the reappearing EL FABIOLO each-way. Although his jumping isn’t always brilliant, he does have a fine record fresh and his 2023 Irish Arkle victory at this track and trip reads very well. Both the runner-up, Banbridge, and third home, Appreciate It, have won graded races this winter.
Marine Nationale wasn’t far behind Gaelic Warrior when third to Solness last time, so he has a shout too. Quilixios beat that one at Naas earlier in the campaign and is now 4lb better off, so looks the pick of Henry De Bromhead’s pair with Captain Guinness on the comeback trail. The out of form Gentleman De Mee is hard to make a case for right now.
2:45 – 2m 5.5f Grade 3 Leopardstown Handicap Chase
A classy if trappy renewal with more than half field racing off a mark of 140+. Of those towards the top of the handicap, Galway Plate hero Pinkerton is most interesting with his Paddy Power Chase third here at Christmas franked by Nick Rockett coming out and landing the Thyestes at Gowran recently.
The real dark horse is BACKTONORMAL with Gavin Cromwell booking Conor Stone-Walsh for the ride. He takes 5lb off with his claim for a featherweight of 9st 13lb. Backtonormal stayed on into a never-threatening sixth here over 2m 1f last time out behind decent horses. Although a maiden over fences, he makes his handicap debut off just 130.
A reproduction of Punchestown Festival form from last spring gives Hgranca De Thaix claims for the Marine Nationale team. Barry Connell’s horse is 9lb higher than when successful then, but readily accounted for Paddy Power Chase hero Perceval Legallois and had Galway Plate second Duffle Coat back in fourth.
Sequestered has a 12lb hike for a very easy success over further here at the Christmas Festival. After finishing second on his last three starts, meanwhile, Monbeg Park is a consistent type with place prospects again. De Bromhead runs three with Shantreusse frustrating to follow, but definitely has a pot in him. Mullins has four headed by topweight James Du Berlais.
3:20 – 2m Grade 1 Irish Champion Hurdle
Lossiemouth, like Brighterdaysahead in the Morgiana at Punchestown in November and December Hurdle here, receives 7lb from State Man. The sex allowance swings things in the females’ favour. Winter Fog, now an 11-year-old, finished in front of him the last day and that is another reason for concern.
If the betting has it right, Mullins should pull off a 1-2-3-4 with Daddy Long Legs next in the market. If Fils D’Oudairies completes, then he receives at least €4,000 for fifth place. Loyalty to State Man from Townend is touching, but he may well benefit from stepping up in trip for something like the Aintree Hurdle in the spring.
3:50 – 2m Timeless Sash Windows Handicap Hurdle (Registered as the Liffey) (Listed)
McLaurey (JUKEBOX JURY) wins his Maiden Hurdle in impressive fashion @LimerickRaces 👏🏻
The @BurgageStud homebred was sold @Goffs1866 Dec NH to Abbey Stables 🔨
Well done to all involved 🍾 @Gaynestownstud @Doyle_Racing pic.twitter.com/38pl3lGGtO
— Burgage Stud (@BurgageStud) December 28, 2024
That has somehow translated in the opinion of the Irish handicapper to a 16lb disparity between them now. James’s Gate going down in distance looks less suitable than for McLaurey, who scored around Limerick last time out. The fourth from that race over further has also won since.
Brave Troop seeks a hat-trick for Charles Byrnes and may need the penalty of winning this if he’s to get into next weekend’s big Premier Handicap at Newbury. Alex Harvey takes the ride and 5lb off. Both Robcour and Gigginstown run two apiece here with Aspire Tower framing the weights. Connections switch Moscow Flyer third Relieved Of Duties to handicap company now and he’s more interesting.
Gigginstown have Storm Heart making his reappearance for Mullins and Townend. They also run The Enabler from Elliott’s yard. Both are also handicap debutants, alongside the unexposed Beckett Rock for De Bromhead. He is 2-3 and upset Bunting at Clonmel in January.
Other in-form horses to note include bottom weight Strutter. Like James’s Gate, he arrives on a hat-rick but has the disadvantage of being 5lb out of the handicap. Strutter is one of six from the Closutton battalion. Ol Man Dingle seeks a four-timer, but Eoin Griffin’s thriving horse has already gone up 25lb for three consecutive wins.
4:25 – 2m Grade 2 Mares INH Flat Race
Declan Queally could upset the big guns in the final race of Irish Champion Hurdle day and the DRF with CARRIGMORNASPRUCE. This mare has won her last two bumpers including when getting up close home over course and distance last time. Carrigmornaspruce doesn’t have a penalty for consecutive victories and that is a big help to her cause.
The obvious danger is Future Prospect in silks better known on the Flat. Mullins runs four with son Patrick naturally picking this one who won so impressively around Fairyhouse last time out. The yard also have Bambino Fever, Blue Velvet and Cameletta Vega in the race.
Amen Kate beat the selection around Limerick earlier on in the season, but Carrigmorna Spruce has definitely improved since and the lack of a recent outing is a worry. Listed winner Churchfield Sunset carries a penalty, which makes life tougher, meanwhile. He made all at Navan, so is clearly useful for Emmet Mullins and John Gleeson.
