Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Don’t ignore Grangeclare West

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty picks out his best bets on Day Two of the Dublin Racing Festival from Leopardstown.

Leopardstown, Sunday

Gaelic Warrior goes in the 2m5½f Grade 1 Novice Chase (1:10pm) after being highly impressive in his two chase starts to date. Both of those have been on right-handed tracks at Punchestown and Limerick and, while he coped with left-handed tracks over hurdles, I’m not fully convinced that it’s going to be as easy for him to do so over fences. I think Fact To File will give him plenty to think about, but to me the one that’s been ignored in the market is GRANGECLARE WEST. He put in a really good performance to beat Corbetts Cross and Flooring Porter in the Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas, and I’d be happy to take him as a value selection against the favourite.

I think BALLYBURN (1:40pm) is potentially the best novice hurdler we’ve seen this season. He’s dropping back to two miles after winning over 2m4f the last day. He was a little keen over that longer trip but he still won at a canter. He was second to Firefox on his hurdles debut when he looked to be badly in need of the run. Farren Glory was travelling strongly when he came down two out at Aintree, so needs to be respected, while Slade Steel is also worth a mention, after he won in Navan last time and it looked to me as though he was a horse that was going to improve for that run. He’s worth keeping an eye on but Ballyburn would be the one for me.

EL FABIOLO should be tough to beat in the Dublin Chase (2:10pm). He’s been impressive everywhere he’s run and his only Achillies heel is the fact that he can be a little bit untidy at his fences. He has so much class though and can’t be opposed. Of his opponents, Dinoblue had Gentleman De Mee comfortably behind her when they met at Christmas, she’s progressed well and might be the one to chase the favourite home.

STATEMAN (2:45pm) put in his best performance in Leopardstown last time when beating stablemate Impaire Et Passe. I’m not sure we saw the best of Impaire Et Passe that day as he was hassled early on and Paul Townend aboard State Man dictated the race brilliantly. Impaire Et Passe was coming into that contest after a tough race against Teahupoo as well, so I think with a bit better luck he might be able to give State Man plenty to think about. I’m not convinced he will have what it takes to beat him, but I don’t feel there’ll be as much between them as the betting suggests.

In the Grade 3 handicap chase (3:20pm), MEETINGOFTHEWATERS has to be of interest after his impressive win at Leopardstown over Christmas. The handicapper hasn’t missed him, as he went up 15 pounds for that, but it was a performance that signalled there could be more to come. It’s interesting though that Townend rides James Du Berlais.

The mares’ bumper (4:25pm) closes the card, where eyes will be on AURORA VEGA. She’s out of Quevega and is a full-sister to Facile Vega and has stepped up on each of her runs to date, so she should be hard to beat. One that might be worth keeping an eye on at a bigger price is Fleur Au Fusil. Willie’s [Mullins] second or third strings are often worth a look in races like this, and she could go well after impressing on debut at Naas.