Gavin Cromwell’s William Hill blog: Dublin Racing Festival Preview

William Hill ambassador Gavin Cromwell talks through his runner at this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival and assesses some of his Grand National chances following this week’s entries.

Check out our Day 1 Dublin Racing Festival Preview here!

Saturday, Leopardstown

The majority of our Dublin Racing Festival runners are on the Saturday, where we start off with I Am Lorenzo in the Grade One novice hurdle (1.15pm). He’s had two nice runs this season and we’re going into Graded company with him now. We’re hoping he can run a nice race and if he can build on his last run then he shouldn’t be too far away.

Long-term, he’s going to be a staying chaser, but with him over hurdles this season the Albert Bartlett is a possibility.

Bet on I Am Lorenzo for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle with our Non Runner Money Back markets

In the two-mile Grade One Juvenile Hurdle (1.50pm) we run Hello Neighbour. He didn’t do everything right when he won the last day and we’ve put the hood on him here to help him settle, which he seems to have taken well to at home. If he does things right here, then he’d have a very good chance.

The ultimate aim with him is the Triumph Hurdle. As expected, it looks a very strong race with a couple of exciting British horses in there. Hopefully we’ll be in the mix come March.

Bet on Hello Neighbour for the Triumph Hurdle with our Non Runner Money Back markets

We’re looking to make use of Perceval Legallois’ mark over hurdles here and he goes in the Listed handicap hurdle (2.25pm) over three miles. He’s probably hit his limit over fences so we’re looking to utilise the hurdle mark in a race he won two years ago.

He’s of eight entries for us in the Grand National, but we’ll have to wait and see before deciding whether he goes there. We’ll take it one step at a time.

Inothewayurthinkin will run in the feature race of the day, the Irish Gold Cup (3.30pm). He’s up against a lot of the same high-class horses here and we’re just hoping he can keep improving and close the gap to them. He took a step forward form the John Durkan to the Savills Chase and we’re hoping he can take another here.

He’s another with an entry in the National but he’s certainly not a definite runner. It’s easier to have him entered and keep the options open at this stage.

We finish off Saturday at Leopardstown with two runners in the two-mile-one-furlong Listed handicap chase (4.05pm). My Mate Mozzie will be carrying top weight under Keith Donoghue. He’s as fit as we can get him at home having not run since the Irish Cesarewitch and he likes Leopardstown. The ground won’t be too soft which should be ideal for him, but he’s got a lot of weight to carry, so hopefully he can run a nice race and be in with a place chance.

Midnight It Is ran very well in the Dan & Joan Moore and was only put up one pound for that performance. He has Conor Stone-Walsh claiming the five here, so if he can put in a similar performance then he shouldn’t be far away.

Sunday, Leopardstown

We’ve only got three runners on the Sunday at Leopardstown, two of which will be in the Grade Three handicap chase (2.45pm) over 2m5½f. Backtonormal is the least exposed of the two but it’s his first run in a handicap and this looks a competitive race. He’s got a rating of 130 and we’re hoping that can be a winning mark, but you never know until you actually race. He jumps well and hopefully he can be competitive here.

Our other runner is Visionarian. He’s got plenty of weight to carry but he’ll love the better ground. He had a nice run at Thurles the last day and if he can put in a similar performance here then he should have a place chance.

Aeros Luck caps off our weekend in the Listed handicap hurdle (3.50pm). He’s high enough in the handicap here but I think there should be improvement to come from him after two quiet runs this season. He seems in good form at some so I’m hoping he runs well.

Elsewhere this weekend

Over in Bahrain, Snellen runs in the Crown Prince’s Cup (4.35pm) on Friday. She was a bit unlucky last time out but I’m not sure she would have won the race anyway. She’s got a bit to find on ratings with a couple in the race, but she’s in great form so I’m hoping she’ll be bang there.

She’ll be out in the Middle East until the spring and all being well she be back with us to run in some of the bigger turf meetings this summer.

Only By Night held an entry in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown on Saturday but she won’t run there. We want to get another run into her before Cheltenham and that will probably be in the Opera Hat at Naas (Saturday 8th February, 3.40pm). She does hold an entry in the Arkle but we’ll most likely go to the Mares’ Chase with her.

Bet on Only By Night for the Arkle Trophy or Mares’ Chase with our Non Runner Money Back Markets

On Sunday Evies Vladimir will be heading up to Musselburgh for the Edinburgh National (2.25pm). He possibly a bit outclassed in the Welsh National but he could benefit from being ridden a bit closer to the pace. The 3m7½f will suit him and I think you’d have to give him a chance over that trip. He seems in good form at home as well.