The two tremendous days at Leopardstown will provide thrills, spills, top class action and final preparations before Cheltenham.

By Brian Dowling

Just a fortnight to go to Leopardstown’s flagship weekend, where it will be the final stop on the road to Cheltenham for many. Eight Grade 1s are on show at the Foxrock venue over the two days, making for one of the finest spectacles of the National Hunt season.

The weekend will see major changes in the market for many of the feature races at the Cheltenham Festival, and the ante post punter will either be laughing or crying depending on how their selection gets on.

With big names like Envoi Allen and Al Boum Photo heading straight for Prestbury Park, it may allow others to provide them with a scare before heading to the March showpiece.

Here is a few to keep an eye on over the weekend, kicking off on Sunday 6 th February.

Gaillard Du Mesnil

Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors 50k Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle –

7/2

The first race of the Dublin Racing Festival provides an open looking affair on paper, but it’s hard to get away from the Willie Mullins trained Gaillard Du Mesnil. He shaped like he needed the run at Punchestown when coming back from nearly a year off the track, and he certainly made amends at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival when scooting away to win the Maiden Hurdle on Savills Chase Day by a whopping eight lengths.

He looked authentic that day, where he jumped with authority, eased into it after the second last and asserted in great style to score by nine lengths with ease. That was over 2 and a half miles, and the way he finished it suggests the step up the 2m6f should not be an issue.

Dangers can come on either side here, with Farouk D’Alene looking good at Limerick over the festive period landing their Grade 2 feature on Day 2. Holymacapony beat the selection on debut, but it looked like something went amiss at Navan the last day, and by the way Gaillard Du Mesnil carried himself the last day, he looks a shrewd operator.

His Cheltenham targets are not yet set in stone, but victory here would surely serve up a Ballymore entry, a race in which he is a current 7/1 shot, and this could be the angle to go with.

Andy Dufresne & Darver Star

Arkle Novice Chase – 8/1 & 10/1

Energumene looked very impressive at Naas on his last start when dismantling Captain Guinness and Blackbow suggesting he looks the type to take on Skiskin at Cheltenham. Although not beating too many rivals, there was something different about Andy Dufresne at Navan in December.

He was pressed every inch of the way by Embittered, but an excellent jump at the last gave him all the momentum to assert up the run in. It was pretty taking the way he finished going away up the hill, and he remains 2 from 2 over fences. He was not look the same machine that Energumene or Unexpected too, but he has bundles of speed and ability which suggest he’s entitled to take his chance here. He’ll be entering new territory, but as will many of these and if performing as well as he knows he can, anything goes.

Darver Star reversed the form with Felix Desjy when second in the Racing Post Novice Chase on St Stephens Day, a race in which he dictated proceedings until just picked off after the final fence. He’s interesting as he has Grade 1 form, unlike many of the market principles ahead of him at this current stage.

He was third in last season’s Champion Hurdle, so he has bundles of ability. His price pf 25/1 for the Arkle at Cheltenham is appealing and will be sliced with a good run here. Shishkin looks every inch a proper two-mile jumper, but his current form over fences can be put into question, and the winner of this race at the Dublin Racing Festival could provide the biggest threat.

A Plus Tard

Irish Gold Cup – 10/1

I remember being at Cheltenham on the Tuesday of the 2019 festival. The horses were just lining up for the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase, with A Plus Tard the 5/1 favourite. We were just down at the last two fences, and what I saw was just mesmerizing. Rachael Blackmore pulled him out into contention at the bend, and he jumped to the lead at the second last. He asserted between the final two and absolutely pinged the last before cantering on up for a very impressive success. Ever since I thought, this horse could be special.

He looked a two and a half miler to me, but was tried at two mile for much of last season. He went on to beat Chacun Pour Soi at this course at the 2019 Christmas meeting, leaving connections with a Champion or Ryanair Chase dilemma. The Ryanair was decided, and things didn’t pan out as hoped, falling a length and a half short of Min.

Henry De Bromhead decided enough was enough, and the switch to three miles for the Savills Chase at Christmas was one of the Waterford trainers’ best performances. A Plus Tard jumped well with Daragh O’Keefe hard at work from three out, A Plus Tard responded to every question asked of him and stayed every inch of the Leopardstown turf to charge home Kemboy to land the spoils in the final strides.

He stayed and stayed and stayed and the more you think of the Gold Cup, the more you think that could be the target, to take on Al Boum Photo, to find his destiny once and for all. He’s a mere 10/1 shot for the Cheltenham showpiece, and is a 10/1 for the Irish Gold Cup. If he wants to cement himself as the Champion he knows he can be, he needs to back up that performance here.

His stablemate Monalee fell very early in that contest, and will probably be back as good as ever for the rematch. But 10/1 is irresistible value for a Savills Chase Champion returning to the scene of his greatest triumph.