LEOPARDSTOWN - DUBLIN RACING FESTIVAL (SATURDAY - DAY 1)

We preview all the action from day one of the Dublin Racing Festival from Leopardstown.

13:15 LEOPARDSTOWN

With so many of the contingent trained by Willie Mullins it's safe to say it's likely the top trainer will be kicking off the two-day festival with a winner.

Perhaps an obvious choice but the unbeaten Final Demand is going to be tough to beat.

Made his long-awaited rules debut at Limerick, and he couldn't have been more impressive. Obviously this is a much tougher test but a repeat of his last performance should see him win in equally comfortable fashion.

Stablemate Sounds Victorious looks best of the rest and I Am Lorenzo looks the only non Mullins trained runner to hold a chance.

FINAL DEMAND (WIN)

13:50 LEOPARDSTOWN

Perhaps somewhat harsh on the other six runners but this looks to be a two-horse contest.

As it stands Hello Neighbour and Sainte Lucie are joint favourites and head the market.

On the face of it Hello Neighbour ticks more boxes having been unbeaten in two starts on the level, winning on hurdling debut and having a course and distance victory to his name, however the 7lb weight allowance he's giving his nearest rival is enough to see me side for the Rich Ricci owned runner.

Sainte Lucie showed enough when winning last time out that she'll be able to make the weight difference pay.

Lady Vega Allen has the potential to upset the applecart having gone very close to Hello Neighbour last time out and may split the market principles.

SAINTE LUCIE (WIN)

14:25 LEOPARDSTOWN

The first handicap of the meeting and it looks a tough one. With 26 runners set to go to post we're going to go for a trio at decent odds.

Bottom weight Meetingofthewaters looks to have been laid out for the race and should improve for his December outing. He represents top-class connections and has the advantage of Rachael Blackmore booked for the ride but he's not a realistic betting proposition at such short odds.

The first of the three that get the nod is a horse who has a fantastic record here at Leopardstown and finished 2nd in the race last year. Gaoth Chuil has only finished outside of the top-three once in five previous course starts and could go close once more.

Another runner with a solid course record is Good Time Jonny. He can be forgiven his most recent run and it'd be safe to say at the age of 10 his better days might be behind him. But a winner of this race back in 2022 and a solid effort at this meeting last year is enough to convince us he'll do better than he's shown of late.

The purple and white colours of Gigginstown are going to be picking up some big prizes from now and for the next few months but they could kick off February with a winner here. Gordon Elliott's Patter Merchant is lightly raced with just seven starts to his name but that means he's still got room to progress. This will be the first time he's tackled the longer three mile trip but it looks as if it'll be the making of him and the key to further success.

GAOTH CHUIL (E/W)

GOOD TIME JONNY (E/W)

PATTER MERCHANT (E/W)

14:55 LEOPARDSTOWN

Another Mullins favourite who looks hard to beat, Majborough has done very little wrong in his short career so far. The winner of last years Triumph Hurdle he made his chasing debut in impressive style. He beat some handy types on his only start over the bigger obstacles and it'll be hard to beat him this time around, especially with 2lbs less weight to carry than his opposition.

MAJBOROUGH (WIN)

15:30 LEOPARDSTOWN

Fact To File produced somewhat of a shock to win at Punchestown where Galopin Des Champs had to settle for third spot but that was over an inadequate trip for the 2024 Gold Cup victor and he managed to reverse the form and put JP McManus' star firmly in his place. It's hard to look past the current Gold Cup favourite and see anything but a repeat of Decembers matchup.

Of the remainder Embassy Gardens could sneak a place.

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (WIN)

16:05 LEOPARDSTOWN

The penultimate race on day one looks perhaps the toughest to call so far. It's hard to be overly confident about any of the 14 runners but a chance is taken on An Peann Dearg who finally claimed his first career win on St Stephens Day (Boxing Day). That victory came over today's course and distance and the handicapper hasn't been too harsh with just a 6lb rise to his mark. A horse that might be on an upward trajectory more will be needed here but it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

Midnight It Is has been a consistent horse of late but might have too much weight to carry and it looks a big ask.

Shanbally Kid was once touted as a potential top-class performer over hurdles but his form has plummeted as a chaser and there's been zero indication that is about to change.

AN PEANN DEARG (E/W)

16:35 LEOPARDSTOWN

It's going to be tough to split the Elliott and Mullins hot pots here in the final contest on Saturday with He Can't Dance and Green Splendour holding strong hands.

Of the duo I'd be more inclined to side with Elliott's charge however from a punting perspective a chance is taken with Noel Meade's Colcannon.

It may have taken the five-year-old five starts to shake off his maiden tag but he did so in solid style at Galway back in October. The form of that performance looks pretty solid with the runner-up Heads Up going on to chase home Kalyposo'chance (well fancied for the bumper at the festival) in a listed contest at Navan. If Noel Meade has now finally found out how to get a tune from him then he could do better than his odds may suggest.

One to consider if the main protagonists fail to deliver.

COLCANNON (E/W)

written by Rory Paddock