Saturday 1st February 2025
1.50 Leopardstown: Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle: My first selection of the afternoon on an action-packed Saturday will come from Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival. This comes within the 1.50 and this is the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle that’s contested over two miles and I like Sainte Lucie here for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. She’s a French recruit who sports the famous Ricci silks and she made a very impressive stable debut at Punchestown last month, winning a maiden hurdle by eleven lengths with horses in behind who were possibly of a fair standard. Connections have spoken highly of her and if she comes on again from the Punchestown run she could post a bold bid here. Sainte Lucie – 2/1 (Win)
2.00 Sandown: Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase: It’s over to Sandown for me next and the 2.00 which is a Class 2 handicap chase that’s ridden over a mile and seven and a half furlongs. I’m siding with Etalon here who represents the team of Dan & Harry Skelton. He’s not managed to find his form as of yet this season, however, as a result, he’s been gradually falling back down the weights and is now on a mark that is just four pounds higher than his impressive victory over course and distance last year. He won by nine lengths on that occasion and looked an exciting prospect, if he returns to that level of form he could bounce back in style here. Etalon – 9/4 (Win)
2.17 Musselburgh: bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle: Selection number three comes from Musselburgh and this comes within the 2.17 which is the Scottish County Hurdle and this is Class 2 handicap action over a mile and seven and a half furlongs. I like Afadil here who represents the combination of Paul Nicholls and Freddie Gingell who takes off three pounds. He’s struggled for form so far this season, however, he won this race last year with that particular success coming off a four-pound higher mark. It’s likely that the plan has always been to come back to this race in an attempt for further success and off this mark he’s got every chance of going very well here again. Afadil – 7/2 (Win)
2.50 Musselburgh: bet365 Scottish Champion Chase: My fourth selection of the afternoon also comes from Musselburgh and in the 2.50 which is the Scottish Champion Chase, a Class 2 handicap over two miles and four and a half furlongs. I like the chances of Marble Sands here for David Killahena & Graeme McPherson who’s the mount of Nick Slatter taking off three pounds. He’s got plenty of form at this track being a course and distance winner and also has some very solid form this term, having placed in competitive Grade 3 handicap on his last two outings behind Frero Banbou and Springwell Bay. If he runs up to the level of either of those runs here he’s got to be considered a player. Marble Sands – 5/1 (Each-Way)
3.07 Sandown: Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle: I’m heading back to Sandown for my ffifth pick and this comes up at 3:07 which is a Premier Handicap hurdle that’s contested over two miles and seven and a half furlongs. I’m with Henri The Second here for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. I’m once again taking a bit of a risk with the stable form here as it’s far from prolific, however, judging this one on individual merit he could still have a bit in hand considering his most recent effort. That last run came over course and distance back in December where he bolted up by eighteen lengths and if he turns up in that form again he could prove very tough to beat. He’s also won a Grade 2 at this track in his novice days and clearly has plenty of ability. Henri The Second – 7/2 (Win)
4.05 Leopardstown: Ryanair Handicap Chase (Listed Race): To sign me off for the afternoon we head back to the Dublin Racing Festival and the 4.05 which is the Listed Ryanair Handicap Chase over two miles and a furlong. I’m taking a chance on the top weight here who’s My Mate Mozzie for Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue. He’s clear on official ratings here and has considerably the best form in the book that’s on offer in the particular affair. He’ll come into the race fresh having not been seen since a couple of runs on the flat back in the Autumn and he’s gone well fresh in the past. If he isn’t held back by the weight it would be disappointing should he not run well within this sort of company. My Mate Mozzie – 11/2 (Each-Way)
