Horse Racing tips: Our pundits’ Saturday Cheat Sheet for the Dublin Racing Festival

I’ll side with Gordon Elliott’s HOLLOW GAMES but it’s a bit of a tentative pick.

HOLLOW GAMES has a high rating and should get back to winning ways.

GRAND JURY beat Minella Cocooner comfortably in a point-to-point and  finished just in front of  Hollow Games at Naas. He could be a value play. 

ERIC BLOODAXE looks the play given his back form. He will need to improve on his Limerick win but stays well and wears a first-time tongue tie.

HOLLOW GAMES emerged with plenty of credit despite losing his unbeaten record in the Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle last time and remains capable of better, especially now stepping back up in trip.

I’m a massive fan of FIL DOR. He sets the standard and he’s the most likely winner. Icare Allen is the value to take advantage if the big guns don’t fire.

I’ll take VAUBAN to turn Fil Dor over. He was narrowly beaten by Pied Piper on Irish debut and that form looks strong after the latter’s romp at Cheltenham last Saturday.

I favour VAUBAN to get his head in front on what we saw of him when runner up at Punchestown to Pied Piper and what he did subsequently at Cheltenham.

He mightn’t win but BEN SIEGEL is worth an each-way play or a look at in the ‘without Fil Dor & Vauban’ market.

FIL DOR was impressive when he kept his 100% record over hurdles in a C&D Grade 2 win over Christmas. He gets the nod to come out on top again. 

You could ask four people and get four different picks in a very open race. SAINT SAM looks to be the forgotten one in this but could yet prove the strongest stayer.

BLUE LORD will be a short price here for Willie Mullins. Hard to stop.

I loved the way RIVIERE d’ETEL went through the race when runner-up to Ferny Hollow last time. That combined with the weight allowance makes her the selection.

HAUT EN COULEURS was third in the Triumph Hurdle last season and can lay down a marker now for the Arkle Chase after his Beginners Chase win here at Christmas.

RIVIERE D’ETEL gets the vote to give Gordon Elliott his first win in this contest. She receives weight all round and can claim her first Grade One race. 

I fancied ENJOY DALLEN for the Paddy Power Chase at Christmas and he ran a cracking race despite not winning. He has some strong chase form, has improved and can take advantage of a lower hurdles rating.

A GREAT VIEW is very well handicapped. Each-way claims.

I have a real soft spot for DALLAS DES PICTONS and it’s hard to believe he has only won twice over hurdles. He’s an each-way play. The obvious dangers are Panda Bay and Dunboyne. 

I’ll put two against the field here in Unexpected Depth and ENJOY DALLEN. The latter is rated 32lbs lower over hurdles than his chase mark.

DUNBOYNE really caught the eye when fifth over course and distance last time and can take a big step forward. Hat-trick seeking Priory Park is a threat despite a career-high mark. 

Kemboy will always have a place in my heart but FRODON is a better jumper and that could be the difference.

FRODON has every chance of getting an easy lead for Paul Nicholls and Bryony Frost. While he wasn’t at his best in the King George,  he could well be good enough. This is winnable with last year’s Gold Cup hero Minella Indo hopeless so far this term.

Willie Mullins’ KEMBOY is a real course specialist and has won and been second in this contest for the past two years. 

I’ll give JANIDIL another chance to prove he stays the trip as his price compensates for that doubt against this field.

KEMBOY gets the nod to build on his good run in the Savills here over Christmas and land this for the second year running.  

Is there something really unexposed in this contest? It  doesn’t look that way to me and MT LEINSTER  can win it if he’s improved.

MT LEINSTER had a higher rating over hurdles so might take advantage over fences.

BATCIO is definitely of interest in a wide- open 2m 1f Chase contest with Shane Fitzgerald taking 7lbs off his back.

STANSFIELD looks worth an each-way play at a nice price.  Timeform say there’s only 6lb on ratings between the field so that gives a lot of them a chance.

EXIT POLL has a bit of class about him so is taken to defy top weight after his decent second back in handicap company here over Christmas. 

This is a decent bumper and  FACILE VEGA has improved a lot since his win here on St Stephen’s Day. That should be good enough.

FACILE VEGA looked good at this track last time and can boost that impression with another victory now.

FACILE VEGA was a very good winner at this track over Christmas. Victory here would surely cement his position as the stable’s main hope for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

SANDOR CLEGANE won by 15 lengths on debut and is worth a small win bet against the hot-pot Facile Vega in the finale.

FACILE VEGA is already vying for favouritism in the Champion Bumper after his emphatic winning debut over C&D and gets the marginal vote over The Big Doyen.