Here’s Tom Stanley live from Dubai with the best Dublin Racing Festival bets from our horse racing podcast.
It’s a monster weekend of jumps racing and I’m sad not to join the guys to preview the Dublin Racing Festival (although Dubai for the Carnival is no bad place to be!)
The DRF is the highlight of the year so far and it looks like proactivity from the course with regards to watering has paid off as most of the horses you’d want to show up do just that.
Eight Grade 1s covered in the main plus some selections from elsewhere – there’s plenty to get stuck into.
Nathaniel Lucy & Partners Solicitors Novices Hurdle 2m6f Grade 1 (13:05 Leopardstown)
Just the seven runners and interesting that Paul Townend left it late to make a decision as to which Mullins horse he rides – a sign there’s no standout from that yard in here. Rixy and Donn are the two with selections and they both go with Grand Jury for Henry De Bromhead who is a bigger price than they expected, 6.2 at the time of recording.
- Daniel – No bet
- Rixy – Grand Jury
- Donn – Grand Jury
- Steve – No bet
Spring Juvenile Hurdle 2m Grade 1 (13:35 Leopardstown)
Fascinating race with form tying in with current Triumph favourite Pied Piper. Rixy and Steve are with that horse’s stable companion Fil D’Or who has plenty of experience. Donn likes Icare Allen at 7.6 who’s form is working out well whilst Dan makes the case for Ben Siegel at 17.0.
- Daniel – Ben Siegel (win/place)
- Rixy – Fil Dor
- Donn – Icare Allen
- Steve – Fil Dor
Bet Now
Irish Arkle Novice Chase 2m1f Grade 1 (14:10 Leopardstown)
Two shouts for Blue Lord and two for the mare Riviere D’etel. Steve suggests Blue Lord could easily be odds-on and is a bet at current prices and he’s Dan’s idea of the Arkle winner at Cheltenham. Rixy suggests the mare should be favourite and she comfortably has the better form and Donn is in agreement making her the bet at the prices.
- Daniel – Blue Lord
- Rixy – Riviere D’etel
- Donn – Riviere D’etel
- Steve – Blue Lord
Irish Gold Cup 3m1/2f Grade 1 (15:15 Leopardstown)
The pace of this could be very interesting given both Kemboy and Frodon in the field. Rixy says this is tough to get to grips with and would rather have a bet at a price with Delta Work being the value with a change of headgear. Donn is also looking at a horse at a double-figure price and feels Janidil has the potential to see out this trip under a patient ride. Dan is feeling brave and thinks Asterion Forlonge is worth a bet at 5.3 given he’s won a Grade 1 at the track, albeit over hurdles. Steve isn’t too concerned about a burn up and thinks Kemboy is a worthy favourite given he’s keen to take on Frodon.
- Daniel – Asterion Forlonge
- Rixy – Delta Work (place)
- Donn – Janidil
- Steve – Kemboy
Saturday Other Bets
- Daniel – No bets
- Rixy – No bets
- Donn – Panda Boy (14:45 Leopardstown)
- Steve – Unexpected Depth (14:45 Leopardstown)
Best Saturday Lay Bets
- Daniel – Minella Indo (place lay)
- Rixy – Vauban (lay)
- Donn – Vauban (lay)
- Steve – Asterion Forlonge (place lay)
Best Saturday Bets
- Daniel – Asterion Forlonge (15:15 Leopardstown)
- Rixy – Fil Dor (13:35 Leopardstown)
- Donn – Icare Allen (13:35 Leopardstown)
- Steve – Blue Lord (14:10 Leopardstown)
Best of luck!
If you’re looking for Cheltenham ante-post previews, producer Daniel Hussey and Micheál Deasy have previewed the Gold Cup, Stayers Hurdle, Arkle Chase with Matt Tombs joining them for the Brown Advisory and Champion Chase. Read them here.
Watch Our Dublin Racing Festival Preview:
Subscribe to the Matchbook Betting Podcast here
Subscribe to the Matchbook YouTube channel here
Check out our Cheltenham YouTube Playlist here