*Odds quoted on the widget are future racing/antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run for whatever reason, you will lose your stake under traditional antepost rules
The highlight of the Dublin Racing Festival is the historic Grade 1 Paddy Power Gold Cup, and there is a superb field lining up for the feature race as plenty of old foes clash again.
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Minella Indo
MINELLA INDO heads the ante-post betting, and Henry de Bromhead’s eight-year-old has plenty to prove after falling at the eighth when sent off favourite for the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over the festive period.
Minella Indo had previously won three in a row and looked like the rising star in this division. His second place finish behind Champ in last season’s RSA at Cheltenham was also hugely promising, and while he has hinted that he is ready to take his place at the top table, the error last time out leaves question marks.
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Kemboy
KEMBOY did everything but win that Savills chase. Willie Mulllins’ nine-year-old set a real good gallop and looked to have seen them all off before A Plus Tard got up in the shadow of the post to agonisingly deny him. Kemboy simply loves it around Leopardstown and with excellent course and distance form in the book, another bold bid is expected.
Melon
Always the bridesmaid? That is the comment you hear most often about Willie Mullins’ gallant chestnut MELON. Second twice in the Champion Hurdle, Melon’s bad luck has continued over the larger obstacles. Second again at the festival in a photo finish behind Samcro in the Marsh Chase and third in that Savills Chase when just behind Kemboy and A Plus Tard as a 25/1 shot. Those fancy prices have vanished, and Melon will be much shorter for this. It would have a chance on his best form, but the value is gone, and it just always seems to find one or two too good.
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*Castlebawn West
*Castlebawn West was ruled out for the season with an injury after time of writing and will not run on Sunday.
Willie Mullins’ third runner in the race could be the dark horse. CASTLEBAWN WEST got back to winning ways when slamming a good field in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. That was a superb weight-carrying performance and it’s notable that Willie Mullins has upped him significantly from handicaps into Grade 1 company. There has been a steady flow of each-way money for Castlebawn West, but it’s looking short in the betting now and the value may have gone.
Presenting Percy
One of the hardest horses to judge in training is PRESENTING PERCY. Capable of brilliance on his day, he is also capable of throwing in a stinker. The change of trainer from Patrick Kelly to Gordon Elliott looked to have worked the trick when the former dual Cheltenham festival winner beat Kemboy at Thurles back in November. But Presenting Percy was a bitter disappointment next time out in the Savills Chase when he trailed home in eighth. He looked to be challenging four out in that race but faded badly. He is too risky a proposition in a race like this.
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The Storyteller
Edwulf and Carlingford Lough have won this race at huge odds in the recent past, and THE STORYTELLER looks the best of the outsiders. Gordon Elliott’s versatile 10-year-old is in great form. He landed the Grade 1 chase at Down Royal in October and followed it up with an excellent second to Flooring Porter in the big stayer’s hurdle race at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Selection – Delta Work
The value in the market has got to be last year’s winner, DELTA WORK. The selection had a nightmare last time out when unseating Sean Flanagan at the ninth in the Savills Chase. That was an uncharacteristic mistake.
Regular pilot, Jack Kennedy, will be back on board and it’s worth betting that Gordon Elliott’s eight-year-old can return to the form which saw him beat Kemboy and Presenting Percy in this race last year now that he has been reunited with Kennedy.
*Odds quoted on the widget are future racing/antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run for whatever reason, you will lose your stake under traditional antepost rules
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