Day one of the Dublin Racing Festival kicks off on Saturday and Phill Anderson from the Racing Post has a trio of each-way selections for the card.
4.10 Leopardstown
Jody Ted @ 40/1
1pt each-way
2.30 Leopardstown
Flame Bearer @ 20/1
0.5pt each-way
1.55 Leopardstown
Gust Of Wind @ 14/1
0.5pt each-way
Handicap debutant can outrun his odds
The handicap chase (4.10) is probably the best betting race on the card with bet365 paying an enhanced four places with just the 12 runners declared and the runner at the bottom of the weights must have a better chance of getting in the mix than his early odds of 40/1 to suggest.
Jody Ted hasn’t managed to build on a wide margin beginners’ success in two subsequent starts in novice chase company but he had an excuse when pulled up at Fairyhouse last time (returned lame) and he looks potentially well treated on his handicap debut from an opening mark of 123.
It’s his Clonmel success back in December that makes him an interesting contender. He was left in front that day when a Willie Mullins odds on favourite came down two from home but Jody Ted already appeared to be getting the better of that argument.
He pulled a long way clear of runner-up Banntown Girl and the third Whiskeywealth and the latter has enhanced the form by bolting up subsequently.
The selection showed he handles these conditions when posting his career best hurdle effort last term and he’s been underestimated here.
Final Orders has to be the main danger in his bid for a five-timer but he’s been shoved up another 11lb for his latest success over C&D and the handicapper may have finally caught up.
Fairyhouse winner can light up Leopardstown
Flame Bearer looks a bit overpriced earlier on the card, despite being down the order on jockey bookings.
The eight-year-old seemingly didn’t beat much when winning a beginners’ at Fairyhouse last month but he put in an assured round of jumping bar a sloppy jump when losing concentration at the last and he can be forgiven that mishap having raced alone throughout.
He was a Grade 2 winner over timber and having already shown that he could be better over the larger obstacles, he might be worth chancing on just his third start for the champion trainer.
New recruit may blow his rivals away
In the Spring Juvenile, Lossiemouth will be hard to beat but one of her stablemates might be worth considering from an each-way perspective at a double figure price.
Gust Of Wind looked like a nice prospect when making a winning start at Auteuil in France last year.
He jumped particularly well for a juvenile making his debut and given that Willie Mullins often improves his purchases from France, and making just his second start, the gelding ought to progress.
The form of his Auteuil success is already starting to take shape, with the fifth winning a maiden hurdle in Ireland since and the third finishing runner-up in a valuable race in France subsequently.
Quicker ground is a slight concern, having looked so good on ‘very soft’ in France but his price compensates for that and if the eight runners stand their ground, he looks like a solid each-way player.
