DUBLIN RACING FESTIVAL DAY ONE TIPS |
Irish NH Tips

This daughter of Great Pretender made a lasting impression on me when she won her maiden at Punchestown on New Years Eve. She travelled in Paul Townend's hands everywhere that day and was up there on a strong pace the whole way. Her jumping was good in the main and when challenged off the bend by the well punted Lukers Tipple, she shot clear with consummate easy to score by an eased down eleven lengths. The second, third and fourth have all since finished second in competitive maidens so the form carries some substance.

If she runs her race, it will be incredibly difficult for any horse to give her the 7lbs mares allowance and will the Mullins team really hitting top form, she is one I cannot oppose.

This son of Soldier Of Fortune had finished fourth in a point-to-point before moving to Charles Byrnes who duly prepped him to make a winning rules debut in a Limerick Bumper over Christmas. I'd consider that to have been a really strong race. He narrowly beat Road Exile by a nose that day who has since won a bumper back at Limerick in very impressive fashion and has been bought to run in the Gigginstown colours. They pulled 11 lengths clear of third on the ground that would have been plenty quick for the pair of them.

He ran plenty green when he got to the front that day and would have learned plenty for the experience. He could literally be anything, and I expect him to put up a bold show here in a race where nothing particularly stands out. I'll be disappointed if he isn't in the shake up in the finish.

This mare is a point-to-point winner as well as the winner of two bumpers and she has taken to hurdling really well. She has improved with each hurdle start since making her hurdles debut at Galway and the further up in trip she has gone the better. Her class got her through first time at Galway over two miles when she was outpaced leaving the back straight but since stepping up to two and a half and three miles in a pair of Grade 2s at Navan and Limerick.

She's a progressive mare and the yard are in flying form recently. She will be in receipt of 7lbs again here against the boys and if she runs her race, she's more than capable of making the frame at a double figure price.

*Information correct at time of writing. 18+ only. GambleAware.