Racing Lee’s Dublin Racing Festival Tips

Run-away last time out winner Ballyburn is chosen to blitz this strong field on his way to better things. Some of the best Irish two-milers this season take their chance against him. But his last time out win over two-mile four produced a devastating performance and he came home clear by 25 lengths.

Second that day was Cleatus Poolaw, who has since run out a ready winner himself. He was a point-to-point winner and a dual bumper winner, beating stablemate Dancing City who’s a last time out maiden hurdle winner, and Slade Steel, a maiden and grade two winner this season.

He drops back in trip for this, but the Mullins team has used this race as a springboard for many of their Cheltenham hopefuls, and I’m taking him to beat this classy field and stamp his mark on the Cheltenham markets.

Having been a multiple graded winners in France and beaten two heads in two grade one races there, he joined the mighty Willie Mullins yard. He started off thrown into a Champion Hurdle on his first run for the team when along way behind Honeysuckle in the 2021 renewal. He then was bumped up to three miles when second to stablemate Klassical Dream in the grade one Champion Stayers at the Punchestown Festival.

That proving how highly they thought of him from receiving him. He was then sent chasing and kicked things off with an easy win, before competing in four grade one chases, without getting his head in front last season.

Last time out he travelled like a dream in a first-time handicap off a pound lower, but that was over three miles, and I think this is his best trip, two mile-five will suit him perfect. He’s a classy sort, strong travelling and from an all-conquering team. And this lightly raced gelding is sure to be primed for a big run on a weekend the yard targets.

The second of two competitive listed handicaps on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival. I fancy the in-form Gavin Cromwell trained Path D’oroux to run a huge race. This point-to-point winner was highly tried as a hurdler, competing in grade one’s along the way. They haven’t wasted any more time in that sphere and have sent him chasing this season, starting in a grade three.

He then came to challenge the eventual winner, The Folkes Tiara, only to bump that rival and unseat at the final fence, that was a handicap over course and distance. Last time out he was second to the Willie Mullins trained Hunters Yarn. Behind that day was solid horses in the shape of Firm Footings and Byker, and I’m hoping he can put it all together to now show his class after that confidence building run.