Horse Racing Tips for Dublin Racing Festival, Sandown, and Wetherby

Renowned Horse Racing Tipster and Journalist Ed Quigley, aka ‘Longshot Ted’ offers up his best bets for Saturday’s & Sunday’s ITV action, and picks out some of the other horses who have made him sit up and take note, of what should be a cracking weekend of sport.

Saturday Advice:

Weveallbeencaught, Leopardstown 1.20 – William Hill
Dolos, Sandown 1.45, NAP – BetVictor
Slipway, Musselburgh 2.03 – Unibet
Monmiral, Sandown 2.20 – William Hill
Ballygriffin Cottage, Wetherby 2.40 – BetUK

Sunday Advice:

Banbridge e/w, Leopardstown 2.30 – BetVictor
State Man, Leopardstown 3.10 – BetVictor

It’s X-Rated stuff this weekend as we have two days of spell-binding action, as the Dublin Racing Festival arrives. Some of the superstars of the game are on display, all looking to enhance their already building reputations. With a Grade 1 card at Sandown amongst others, there is plenty to be excited about over the course of the next couple of days. 

Bet on the Dublin Racing Festival with BetVictor

The ‘DRF’ kicks off at 1.20 on Saturday, and I think British raider WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT shouldn’t be underestimated in the 2m6f Grade 1 Hurdle for Novices. The Nigel Twiston-Davies team will be confident of a bold show here from the 6-year-old, whose collateral form looks strong. He was third to subsequent Challow Hurdle winner Hermes Allen on his hurdling debut and then improved to beat Rock My Way at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. The form of that race has worked out a treat, with the Syd Hosie representative coming out and winning the Grade 2 Ballymore trial. Weveallbeencaught should thrive upped in trip for this assignment, and it wouldn’t shock me if it was a successful trip across the Irish Sea.

Heading to the Esher venue, and it is in the 1.45 where I am sticking with a tried and tested formula, with the veteran DOLOS looking to get another win on his CV at Sandown. Paul Nicholls has his string in scintillating form, and this gelding, who adores Sandown, can get back in the winner’s enclosure here. He has a record of three wins and three placed efforts from eight starts at the track, and of 146 is only 3lb higher than 12 months ago. When you break it down specifically, his form figures in this race read 21121. Harry Cobden is in the saddle and can defy the 12-stone weight burden here.

The Scilly Isles at 2.20 is a small but select field, with a lot of eyes naturally focusing on Irish raider Gerri Colombe. I have no doubt he is the class act in the field, and if there was a horse to make up into a Cheltenham Gold Cup candidate in 12 months’ time he would be the one. However, on the ground which may be a bit more lively than ideal for him, it has got to be a worry. MONMIRAL has acquitted himself well over fences so far, chasing home Jonbon on debut at Warwick, and then finishing second in the Dipper at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. I think this 2m4f will suit, and Sandown is a track where he can utilise his slick jumping to the best effect. 

Scottish Racing fans will be looking forward to an exciting card as Musselburgh hosts the Edinburgh National (2.03). Ben Pauling’s Cotswold yard has been having a great time of things this season, firing in 63 winners to date, with a healthy 23% strike-rate, and I wouldn’t be shocked if SLIPWAY had the ability to defy top-weight and an official mark of 140. The eight-year-old jumped and travelled beautifully when winning at Fontwell when last seen, and looks capable of defying a 7lb hike in the weights. He is on an upward curve and can book his ticket to the big one at Aintree with success here.

We shouldn’t forget about Wetherby, with the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase taking centre-stage. BALLYGRIFFIN COTTAGE ought to be a class apart, and providing there is enough juice in the ground, he can jump his rivals ragged. The Dan Skelton trained 8-year-old put in a mesmerizing round of jumping on Chase debut when sauntering to success by 11 lengths at Haydock back in November. Up to 3m here, he can lay down a marker for the Cheltenham Festival.

Bet on Ballygriffin Cottage at William Hill

On Sunday, the action doesn’t relent, and I think KILCRUIT could be capable of causing an upset (1.40). It’s a tough race, but on his peak hurdling form he wouldn’t be without a shout. He was far from disgraced in a Grade 1 at Limerick over the Christmas period, and I think he could flourish upped to 2m5f for the first time. He is versatile in regards to ground, and in a race where I think you can pick apart the claims of the protagonists, It wouldn’t be a shock if the 8-year-old out ran his odds. Five of the six runners are trained by Willie Mullins, with Sean O’Keefe taking the ride on the supposed ‘third string’ from Closutton yard and he shouldn’t be dismissed as they look to topple warm favourite Mighty Potter, trained by Gordon Elliott. 

Bet on Kilcruit at BetVictor

The Irish Arkle (2.30) looks one of the best Novice Chases in recent years where Willie Mullins has a quintet due to go to post. It could be that the competition is just far too hot, but I think Banbridge could be the forgotten horse in this line-up. He has winning form over 2m4f, but he clearly didn’t stay that trip at Fairyhouse on really soft ground, and this race looks as though it will suit him. I imagine there will be lots of pace on here with Dysart Dynamo and Appreciate It in the field, and imagine Banbridge will be ridden with a little restraint from off a searing pace which will suit him nicely and he looks an each-way player. 

Bet on The Irish Arkle at Betway

Undoubtedly the clash of the weekend is in the Irish Champion Hurdle on Sunday (3.10). State Man v Honeysuckle v Vauban is a race to savour, and could be one of the races of the season. Honeysuckle lost her unbeaten record in the Hatton’s Grace last time out, which may not have been as underwhelming as initial impressions lead us to believe, given the subsequent form of runaway Galmoy Hurdle winner Teahupoo. The mighty mare will be looking to regain her crown, but I think this can go the way of STATE MAN. The 6-year-old has been progressing nicely, winning three Grade 1’s on the bounce, and he can continue the winning thread here before having a crack at Constitution Hill at Cheltenham next month.

Don’t forget Ed will be back on Monday with his Weekend Review, discussing all the key talking points and fall-out from the major races.

Ted https://twitter.com/Longshot_Ted?

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