Minella Indo heads a small but select field of five runners declared for the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Henry de Bromhead's charge is a short-priced favourite to bounce back from an uncharacteristic fall in the Savills Chase over the course and distance in December and reaffirm his claims for the Cheltenham Gold Cup next month.
The eight-year-old is reopposed by three other horses who contested the Savills Chase in Kemboy, Melon and Delta Work.
The Willie Mullins-trained pair of Kemboy and Melon finished a close-up second and third behind De Bromhead’s A Plus Tard in the Savills Chase just under six weeks ago, while Gordon Elliott’s Delta Work unseated his rider.
The quintet is completed by Elliott’s second string The Storyteller, who was last seen finishing second behind Flooring Porter in the Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle.
What a race! A Plus Tard wins a thoroughly absorbing and dramatic Savills Chase #RTEracing pic.twitter.com/LYCmiKZUZv
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) December 28, 2020
Potential Gold Cup horses of the future contest the preceding Flogas Novice Case, which stages a third clash between the Mullins-trained Monkfish and Paul Nolan’s stable star Latest Exhibition.
Monkfish denied Latest Exhibition by a neck when landing the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, but was more authoritative when winning a Grade One over fences at this venue in December.
The Rich Ricci-owned seven-year-old is odds-on to confirm his superiority, despite dropping back from three miles to an extended two miles and five furlongs.
Mullins also saddles Asterion Forlonge, who needs to bounce back after successive falls, as well as Janidil.
Gordon Elliott’s Andy Dufresne also features in a nine-strong field.
Monkfish shows his staying power to win the Grade One Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown #RTEracing pic.twitter.com/zaJdj499Fd
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) December 29, 2020
Mullins also houses the red-hot favourite for the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle in Appreciate It, who was a hugely impressive winner over the course and distance last time and already heads ante-post lists for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The son of Jeremy is joined by no less than five stable companions in Blue Lord, N’golo, Galopin Des Champs, Mr Coldstone and Hook Up.
Elliott’s Ballyadam, De Bromhead’s Irascible and Paddy Corkery’s Master McShee are among the opposition.
Appreciate It powers away from his rivals in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. pic.twitter.com/l0jVJICkn1
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) December 27, 2020
The first of four Grade Ones on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival is the Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle, in which Elliott’s Quilixios puts his unbeaten record on the line.
Mullins is represented by Ha D’or, Saint Sam and Youmdor, but his new recruit French Aseel has not been declared.
Joseph O’Brien’s Busselton and Paul Gilligan’s big outsider Varna Gold are the other hopefuls.
Lovely performance from Quilixios 😍
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 13, 2020
A stylish winning debut for @gelliott_racing, @DenisFORegan & @CPStudOfficial as the son of Maxios stretches clear to win easily at @punchestownrace
Results & free replays ➡ https://t.co/sBcsavpOzF pic.twitter.com/3oyh9ZpJz3
Mullins again appears to hold all the aces in the concluding NH Sires Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares INH Flat Race – with five of the 11 runners hailing from Closutton.
The trainer’s son Patrick has sided with Brandy Love over Brooklynn Glory (Barry O’Neill), Purple Mountain (Tom Hamilton), Take Tea (Derek O’Connor) and Grangee (Jody Townend).
The big danger appears to be Hollymount, who makes her first start for Elliott having recently been snapped up for £300,000.
Watch live coverage of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on Saturday (1pm) and Sunday (1.30pm) and listen live on RTÉ Radio One
