Sunday's Meetings Meydan(UAE) Dirt&Turf 6 Races 11:05-2:00p.m. Leopardstown N/H 8 Races 12:45-4:40p.m. Musselburgh N/H 7 Races 1:00-4:20p.m. Kempton A/W 6 Races 1:40-4:30p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Extend Leopardstown in a 3 day event, get the best the British have and make it the next big festival, a new era begins doubt it will ever take off to that scale but Cheltenham has become so diluted and dull there could be a gap in the market perhaps...
There does seem to be a buzz around it now and given it's infancy , that can only grow. I was in town (Wexford) early yesterday morning and there was a couple of taxi's full of Welsh fans who had travelled across on the boat to watch the rugby for the day, probably stay the night or go back from Rosslare that evening. Could see locally the pubs had more gatherings of young race fans too, so it is catching the imagination. Horse racing Ireland must be delighted with how its going.
I'm not sure adding a 3rd day would improve the DRF - it could be the same dilution which we have seen at Cheltenham. I'd struggle to identify a further 6 or 7 races you could add which would add to the overall quality and to me it feels just right as it is. You have true Championship races for speed horses (Irish Champion Hurdle, Dublin Chase) and Stayers (Irish Gold Cup) - perhaps only a Stayers Hurdle to add, but certainly not the intermediate trips. I also like the fact that the DRF programme does not ask novices to go extended trips - the 2m6f hurdle opener yesterday and 2m5f novice chase today are far enough for novices. I think the Albert Bartlett and RSA Chase (or whatever it is called these days) are often a trip too far for novices and are not races I enjoy watching.
You're probably right, I was just surmising that if the British contingent did travel they could possibly open it up to an extension. We all talk about bringing Cheltenham back to the 3 days which will never happen now, so hypothetically I was thinking Leopardstown could perhaps make it 3 and become the flagship event for the future. I agree with all your points though, it does enough and has the right races over the 2 days, very satisfying. The only thing I would like to see more of it the "raiders" coming over to run. We're really not that scary
Kempton 215 dewey road looks in a good position to take this at 13/2 with Hannon in fine form and Rossa also going well. Awtc withthe blue bower and mellys flyer. I will also have a double with KARIBANA in the 400 who i fancied to go well last night when looking 5s best now but i did get 6s last night the only issue is the claimer .
Stick with the obvious ones today or is there anything from left field that can turn over any of the Betty's hotpots? I've had a couple of positive messages regarding Sit Down Lucy in the first race, trading around 8/1 and most paying 5 places if you wanted an each way bet. She hasn't convinced me entirely but does run consistently enough to suggest she will place again, I'm not confident for win purposes though. Good to see Nicholls send Greaneteen over. After Chacun's last run is he there to be shot at today... I think Mullins holds all the Aces with his bumper favourite today again too , looked another classy sort the last day. Honeysuckle should win, Sir Gerhard should win, Galopin should win and the other handicaps are as usual, tricky.
British trainers are often set in their ways and lack ambition - especially a certain one based in Lambourn , who then moans that he can't find suitable races for his horses When you look at the prize money on offer in both Ireland and France it really begs the question as to why the top British yards don't target these races more often (I admit Covid has played a role in the last couple of years but even before that, you rarely saw a British runner at Punchestown or Auteuil). I think Henderson once ran Long Run in France. I know Hobbs sent Thyme Hill over to Auteuil for a Grade 1 in November (even though that was very heavy ground and seemed to take a lot out of him - you have to consider these things too). Frodon picked up €3700 yesterday and €75000 at Down Royal so it has been well worth it for his connections.
Shame - there were quite some noises about him being a dark horse for the Supreme. What is the reason given for him not running?
Just so straightforward Galopin Des Champs - travels, jumps, powers away to win. A magnificent animal.
Has a lot of scope. Very clever at his fences and can rectify himself when not meeting one right, a huge advantage to have over some other horses. He's a clever boy.
