Dublin Racing Festival 2023 Accumulator Tip: Are the Favourites Bankers or Busts?

With the Dublin Racing Festival taking centre stage this weekend, I have taken an early look at the ten graded races over an exceptional two days of racing.

With plenty of short-priced favourites I’ve gone through their credentials, highlighting whether they’re banker material or worth taking on.

The 2023 Dublin Racing Festival gives us two days of top class action where we will see some superstars on show like Honeysuckle and some potential superstars such as Lossiemouth and Facile Vega.

Are the short price favourites lining up at the Dublin Racing Festival some of the bankers of the weekend or should they be taken on? We take a look below.

Add our five bankers to a Dublin Racing Festival accumulator at the current odds of 15/1 with BetUK and if you sign-up you’ll get £30 in free bets to spend.

 

Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors “50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Current Favourite – Good Land 2/1

The first Grade 1 of the Dublin Racing Festival looks like it could be a very competitive affair which instantly gives you options when it comes to taking on current favourite Good Land. Hiddenvalley Lake is rumoured to be heading to Clonmel but the likes of Sandor Clegane, American Mike, Grangecalre West, Favori De Champdou and English raider Weveallbeencaught look likely to line up. Good Land was an impressive winner of a decent maiden hurdle over Christmas and despite Embassy Gardens bolting up since, I would question the form. Tag Man was second that day and has since been beaten out of sight in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle. I also thought it was interesting to see Good Land wasn’t given an Albert Bartlett entry. You would think if he were a seriously decent prospect, connections would cover all basis. He may have one or two more gears than a few of his rivals but with plenty of these wanting three miles down the line I could see something attempt to make this a real stamina test, which ultimately should favour one of the bartlett horses. It looks a trappy contest, but at the prices I think you have to take Good Land on.

Banker or Bust – BUST

 

Spring Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)

Current favourite – Lossiemouth 1/2

Lossiemouth has been the dominant force in the Juvenile division this season and she should take all the beating here. A comprehensive winner of the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle over Christmas, she has comfortably beaten a handful of these hoses before. Blood Destiny sits second in the betting for the Triumph Hurdle, but I think he is unlikely to turn up here having run recently. Gala Marceau caught my eye in behind Lossiemouth last time out and is clearly a very talented mare. She raced exuberantly throughout, and her jumping was novicey to say the least. I think on raw ability she’s not that far off Lossiemouth, but at this stage in their careers, I think Lossiemouth will prove too professional for her. On all known form Lossiemouth should take this.

Banker or Bust – BANKER

 

Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Current favourite – Dysart Dynamo 7/4

Dysart Dynamo is clearly an extremely talented individual and was very good on chase debut over Christmas. He is quite a character though and can let the occasion get him. I firmly believe he’d ran his race in the Supreme before the tapes went up. Appreciate It has been weak in the betting so I would say he’s likely to line up in the longer race or head straight to Cheltenham. El Fabiolo could be the main danger and he’s a horse with untapped potential. Still extremely lightly raced he quite simply could be anything, but his jumping was novicey on debut. Dysart Dynamo is guaranteed to go off hard and El Fabiolo won’t be able to make mistakes in behind. Saint Roi could be the muggy each way play having impressed in the Grade 1 Racing Post App Novices Chase over Christmas. Visionarian got very close to him though and I think Dysart Dynamo will be far more difficult to reel in. With Appreciate It 50/50 to line up this is a very difficult race to assess antepost. My gut feeling is that he won’t, so I subsequently think Dysart Dynamo could get loose on the front end and take a fair bit of catching.

Banker or Bust – BANKER

OFFER: Join Betfred > bet £10 > get £40 in free bets and bonuses

 

Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (Grade 1)

Current favourite – Galopin Des Champs 4/11

One of the most exciting horses in training and the current 6/4 favourite for this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, Galopin Des Champs puts his lofty reputation on the line in the Irish Gold Cup. His two chase starts to date at the track were breath taking and there’s reason to believe his monstrous performance in the Turners at Cheltenham may have broken Bob Olinger. The main question mark against his name is whether or not he’ll stay the Gold Cup trip. I personally wouldn’t be too concerned about his stamina, and I certainly wouldn’t be worried about three miles around Leopardstown. All be it fortuitously, Fakir D’oudairies has franked his John Durkan form and he’s 7lbs clear on Official Ratings. I think we may see another special performance.

Banker or Bust – BANKER

 

Future Stars (C & G) I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2)

Current favourite – Fascile Mode 15/8

The Bumper scene has been a little blurry this season, but Fascile Mode produced one of the standout performances at Leopardstown over Christmas. As is the way in bumpers, form is tough to assess, with so many unexposed horses, but he was visually very impressive. Trained by Thomas Mullins and owned by Helen Mullins, it could be that he was primed to the max for the day in the hope he may fetch a pretty penny. Better Days Ahead could take him on and he appeared to step forward plenty on his last start, quickening clear of the quirky Chapeau De Soleil. Feronily ran extremely well on debut, placing behind the smart Ile Atlantique. The front three pulled well clear that day and the third No Time To Wait has franked the form since, bolting up by 15 lengths. With Willie likely to send a couple here, there’s enough to take on Fascile Mode with, and for that reason he’s a bust.

Banker or Bust – BUST

 

Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Current favourite – Mighty Potter 5/2

Interestingly, all the money in this market seems to have been for Appreciate It of late. Having advised both Appreciate It 10/1 and Mighty Potter 12/1 for the Turners, I would happily see the pair line up here, and hopefully pull miles clear of the rest!

Appreciate It’s presence in the race is my no means confirmed and money coming in for him could be a result of him shortening considerably for the Turners at Cheltenham. Willie Mullins has the likes of Gaillard Du Mesnil, James Du Berlais, Adamantly Chosen and Kilcruit entered, and the four named horses have been off the track longer than Appreciate It. It may well be Willie goes straight to Cheltenham with Appreciate It and lets his other horses, who are arguably more in need of the run, take their chance.

With that in mind, Mighty Potter looks a strong favourite. He still appears to be learning on the job but clearly possesses some engine. The trip looks ideal for him and on form he has plenty of these beat. Having defeated Three Stripe Life at the track last Christmas, we know he goes well at Leopardstown and I think he could confirm himself as one of the most exciting young chasers in training.

Banker or Bust – BANKER

OFFER: Join SBK > bet £10 > get a £10 free bet.

 

Ladbroke Dublin Chase (Grade 1)

Current favourite – Blue Lord 4/9

Plenty of winners have come from last season’s Arkle and Blue Lord has been one of them, winning the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase on his seasonal reappearance before putting in a career best performance to land the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase over Christmas. He travelled sweetly that day and really kicked away from his rivals after the last. As Energumene ran at Cheltenham last weekend, I don’t see an obvious rival to Blue Lord. Gentleman De Mee has the form in the book to challenge him, but he’s looked out of sorts so far this season. A repeat of Blue Lord’s Christmas triumph should see him land the spoils.

Banker or Bust – BANKER

 

Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

Current favourite – State Man 5/4

State Man has been ultra-impressive so far this season and deserves his place in behind Constitution Hill at the head of the Champion Hurdle betting. He faces by far his biggest challenge to date though, facing wonder mare Honeysuckle and the reopposing Vauban. Teahupoo gave Honeysuckles form a decent boost at Gowran and it may well be that her first career defeat wasn’t a bad run at all. She tends to improve bundles for her first start and the drop back to two miles will certainly suit. On RPR’s she wouldn’t appear to be quite as good as she once was, but it would be extremely dangerous to write her off. Vauban reappeared behind State Man over Christmas and given Willie Mullins down beat reports, he ran a seriously good race. With age firmly on his side, he could improve bundles for that run. State Man was never asked to fully extend so Vauban will have to improve considerably but he just might do that. I wouldn’t be so sure how much more there is to come from State Man and at the prices I think he’s worth taking on.

Banker or Bust – BUST

 

Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Current favourite – Facile Vega 2/5

Last season’s Champion Bumper has taken some knocks from a form perspective, but there’s no doubt in my mind that Facile Vega is an extremely good horse. For those who are questioning his form, it is worth noting he beat subsequent Grade 2 scorer Ashroe Diamond further than Marine Nationale who everyone believes has much stronger form. Given how effortlessly he cruised into contention during his bumper campaign, it is hardly surprising he hasn’t been as visually impressive making his own running. With High Definition set to line here, Facile Vega should have something to give him a tow into the race. I have no doubts about him staying further in time but for him to be seen to best effect over the minimum trip, I think he wants a proper gallop and something to take him down to the last. I think High Definition is good enough to do that and subsequently think this could be the first “wow” performance from Facile Vega this season.

Banker or Bust – BANKER

 

Coolmore N.H. Sires “Santiago” Irish EBF Mares I.N.H Flat Race (Grade 2)

Current favourite – Fancy Girl 11/8

Fancy Girl really impressed me when making a winning debut for Willie Mullins at the start of the month. Sent out to make all, she galloped her rivals into the ground and quickened up nicely to put the race to bed. A winner of a Point to Point on yielding ground, she looked a good mover, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her improve for a sounder surface. This race is hard to call antepost, but I think it will take a very good mare to beat her.

Banker or Bust – BANKER

 

Dublin Racing Festival Accumulator Tip

• Irish Arkle Dysart Dynamo (Saturday): 7/4
• Irish Gold Cup – Galopin Des Champs (Saturday): 4/11
• Dublin Chase – Blue Lord (Sunday): 2/5
• Tattersalls Ireland Novices Hurdle – Facile Vega (Sunday): 2/5
• Coolmore NH Flat Race – Fancy Girl (Sunday): 11/8

ODDS – 15/1 with BetUK

 

How to get the Bet UK £30 Sign-up Offer:

1 Join BetUK for free via this link

2 Bet £10 on a race

3 Get £30 in free bets

Relevant news