Willie Mullins is the heavy favorite to dominate the Dublin Racing Festival, with several horses tipped to win their respective races. Nicky Henderson and Constitution Hill will be looking to spoil the party, with a strong showing expected from the English star.
Cheltenham's Trials Day is looming, and bookmakers are predicting another dominant performance from the sport's most successful figure, Willie Mullins , at Leopardstown 's €2 million highlight. A year ago, Mullins achieved an unprecedented clean sweep of the eight Grade One races, including an Irish Gold Cup - Champion Hurdle double courtesy of Galopin Des Champs and State Man. He secured nine out of the 15 races overall, increasing his tally to 47 DRF winners during its seven-year existence.
A remarkable 34 of those victories belong to Grade One races, and Mullins appears poised to once again claim the weekend's top-tier prizes.Despite a lack of cross-channel runners, the Dublin Racing Festival continues to attract a substantial British following. One of the most anticipated clashes will see Mullins' star, Constitution Hill, take on a formidable field in the Champion Hurdle. Henderson, trainer of Constitution Hill, is confident after his star's flawless victory at Cheltenham, stating that they will head into the DRF with high hopes. Meanwhile, Mullins has several favorites according to most ante-post betting lists, including Sainte Lucie, who shares the lead in Saturday's Juvenile Hurdle with Gavin Cromwell's Hello Neighbour. In many of these races, the primary threat to a Mullins favorite appears to be a stablemate. Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File are set for a third consecutive showdown in Saturday's €250,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup, while Lossiemouth, the odds-on favorite, faces a challenge from the hat-trick seeking State Man in the €200,000 Champion Hurdle. Ballyburn is favored for the Ladbrokes Novice Chase, as are Gaelic Warrior in the Dublin Chase and Majborough in the Arkle. Final Demand is a strong favorite for Saturday's opening race. Kopek Des Bordes and Kaid D’authie dominate the betting for the Tattersalls Novice Hurdle. If this proves to be a daunting prospect for Mullins' competitors, few will observe the DRF action with more keen interest than Nicky Henderson, who confirmed Constitution Hill's well-being following his near mishap at the final hurdle during his effortless victory at Cheltenham on Saturday. The English star's undefeated record at 10 out of 10 has cemented his position as the favorite for the Champion Hurdle. Henderson, acknowledging the formidability of Mullins' lineup, particularly Lossiemouth and State Man, expressed anticipation for the DRF, stating that there is a chance their absence from the upcoming events will offer valuable insight. A notable Mullins contender, Sunday's impressive Naas victor Anzadam, might miss the Cheltenham festival. Despite justifying his short odds in the Grade Three Limestone Lad Hurdle, a decision awaits regarding his participation in the Champion Hurdle. Mullins expressed a preference for Aintree, citing Anzadam's age and the promise he has shown, potentially relegating Cheltenham to a future target
Willie Mullins Dublin Racing Festival Constitution Hill Nicky Henderson Irish Gold Cup Champion Hurdle Leopardstown Racing
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