Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Galopin Des Champs to confirm he’s the best chaser in training

I can’t wait for the Dublin Racing Festival. It’s an absolute cracker of a two-day meeting and with eight Grade 1s and most of Ireland’s best horses lining up, it should be a real spectacle.

I’ve had a good look through the day one card and with any luck can steer you in the direction of a winner or two!

Leopardstown, Saturday

With four of the six declared in the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (1.20pm) trained by Willie Mullins, it’s hard to look past his runners here. PREDATORS GOLD has always looked like he’s going to need a trip as shown by the way he stayed on over two miles behind Caldwell Potter at Christmas. I think 2m6f is made for him and I’m not surprised Paul Townend has picked him. He should get favourite backers off to a winning start at 7/4.

The Spring Juvenile Hurdle (1.50pm) often goes a long way to deciding who wins the Triumph at Cheltenham, with the likes of Quilixios and Vauban winning it in recent years. It’s a big field with connections still trying to figure out where their juveniles all lie in the pecking order.

While Mr Mullins has a lot of numbers and likely a lot of quality, the one I like is KALA CONTI. She’s done nothing wrong this season, is very honest and is a course and distance winner, so she ticks a lot of boxes. We know she’s extremely genuine and Jack Kennedy is now aboard. I don’t think she’s been fully appreciated yet for what she’s achieved and the fact she gets seven pounds is an added bonus. She’ll do for me at 6/1.

Mullins has won the Irish Arkle (2.25pm) for the last three years with Energumene, Blue Lord and El Fabiolo, but it doesn’t look like he has the next superstar in this division as MARINE NATIONALE should take some stopping. It’s a huge leap from a beginners chase to a Grade 1, but he went from winning his maiden hurdle to winning the Royal Bond last season. He’s not a young horse being a seven-year-old and quotes of 4/9 look fair.

I do expect FACILE VEGA to chase him home, but he does have a few questions to answer after folding tamely at Christmas.

The Listed 3m handicap hurdle (3.00pm) is a lot more competitive. The one I like is PANDA BOY for Martin Brassil and my fellow William Hill ambassador J J Slevin. This chap loves Leopardstown and is seven pounds lower over hurdles than he is over fences, so could be very well-handicapped. He’s consistent, loves the track and loves the trip and I can see him running a big race at 11/2.

This year’s Irish Gold Cup (3.35pm) might only have four runners, but that was the case in 2019 and you only need two runners to make a race. We have the match we wanted at Christmas as GALOPIN DES CHAMPS and Fastorslow face off for the fourth time. It’s 2-1 in the latter’s favour but I think Galopin will win this one.

He’s officially rated 12 pounds higher than his main market rival and I agree. His performance at Christmas was monstrous and while I really like Fastorslow, I think Galopin Des Champs is the best chaser in training. He’s 2/5 for a reason.

A 2m1f handicap chase (4.10pm) is up next and the one I’ve come down on is Joseph O’Brien’s SOLNESS at 9/2. His trainer has won this twice in the last three years and his runner this time around has a lovely profile for this race. He’s high enough in the weights but is open to lots of progression and looks still quite unexposed in here. Plenty have shown their hands but under J J Slevin, I expect him to go close.