J J Slevin’s William Hill blog: Dublin Racing Festival Preview

William Hill ambassador J J Slevin previews his Dublin Racing Festival rides, with the likes of El Fabiolo, Jasmin De Vaux, Impaire Et Passe and others headlining his Leopardstown bookings.

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Saturday, Leopardstown

My first ride at the meeting is aboard Jasmin De Vaux, who is one of five runners in the two-mile six furlong Grade One novice hurdle on Saturday (1.15pm). The big track will suit him well, as will the ground. I think if things went his way he could easily pop up and run a very big race as you have to remember he won the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival last season. I didn’t really get involved with his last race in the Grade One at Naas and I’ve not asked many questions. He was probably a little bit cautious at a hurdle or two that day, but I didn’t get too involved as I like to look forward rather than back. I’ve been on him a few times at home, and he has always gone quite well. They are popping a set of cheekpieces on him which will hopefully sharpen him up and I think they will help him.

Next up for me on the card is Galileo Dame who I ride for Joseph O’Brien in the Grade One juvenile hurdle (1.50pm). She was a green on her first run over hurdles, but she ran very well that day. She is a very talented filly on the flat having contested last year’s Irish Oaks and she likes a bit of ease in the ground. She was only beaten two lengths on her first start over hurdles and if she had won that race she would be a 5-1 chance not the double figure price she is so we are hopeful of a big run.

I’ve got Carrig Sam in the three-mile Listed hurdle (2.25pm) and I would say he would have to find his way again to stand any real chance, but if you’re not in it you can’t win it.

My last ride of the day is aboard Gaelic Arc in the Listed handicap chase (4.05pm) and the two mile one handicap chase division in Ireland is often the weakest division. He is a forward going horse that bowls along from fence-to-fence and he won a nice race for John Ryan in the summer at Killarney. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that he could run very well in a race like this. He is a talented horse and horses like him can often pop up in these sorts of races. If he puts his best foot forward he could be bang there come the finish.

Sunday, Leopardstown

Before my Grade One rides on Sunday I will be on board Lily Du Berlais in the Listed mares handicap hurdle (12.40pm). Lily Du Berlais was a Grade Two bumper winner back in her younger days so we know she has ability. Her two runs since returning from a break haven’t been the greatest, but she is only a pound higher than when she won at Kelso back in May which offers some hope.

I’m really looking forward to riding Impaire Et Passe in the Grade One novice chase on Sunday (1.10pm). He has run 12 times and won nine of them. He has competed at the highest level over hurdles and he is already a Grade One winner over fences. It will be a great clash with Ballyburn, but on all known form he has a big chance of beating him. It was down to Willie, and the owners, as to why he is running at Leopardstown opposed to going for the Scilly Isles at Sandown, but I would say the ground also had a bit of a say in it. There is very little to choose between them on ratings and Impaire Et Passe has done nothing wrong over fences. He is a hard knocking top class hurdler that has really taken to his fences well. I’ve had a sit on him a few times at home and he is a lovely horse to deal with that is very straightforward. It would be very special to win a Grade One on him, but everyone knows how hard it is to win those big races and they don’t hand them out too freely.

It is all systems go to run El Fabiolo in the Grade One Dublin Chase (2.10pm). Although he has been off the track for a good while I’ve sat on him at home and he seems in good shape. He is a very talented horse and if he turns up he has a massive chance. He is a proper horse that has beaten Jonbon in an Arkle and not many horses have beaten him. There is no better man than Willie Mullins to get them back to his best after a lay off. He will be going there under the radar a little bit. Although he will be having his first run of the season I would say the team at Closutton won’t have him going there half cooked.

James Du Berlais is a lovely horse that really has been a model of consistency. He finished third in this race last year before then going on to run a big race over the Aintree fences in the Topham in the spring. I would imagine he would take a similar route to last season as he is such a good jumper. He hasn’t won for a while and I suppose the thing with him being so consistent is that he probably getting a pound here or there which might have stopped him from winning a big one. If any horse deserves to win a valuable Grade Three handicap (2.45pm) like this then he does.

I will round out the meeting on Batman Girac in the two mile Listed hurdle (3.50pm). He is a bit of a headstrong lad. I don’t know too much about him, but I will speak to Daryl Jacob, who rode him last time, and he will fill me in about him, however I’m a little bit in the dark about him.