The Dublin Racing Festival. On a quiet Saturday in February, as my family sleeps in for a change, I’m wading into two days of high-class racing at Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland.
Willie Mullins, the greatest National Hunt trainer, in history entered 23 horses in the seven races today.
And, yeah, Mullins just won the first with the favorite. Final Demand. The future chaser will be the favorite for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham in March.
Could he sweep the card?
Sainte Lucie is 13/8 in the second. Meetingofthewaters is 2-1 in the third. Majborough is 10/11 and Ile Atlantique is 2-1 in the fourth. The champ Galopin Des Champs is 4/7 and Fact To File is 7/2 in the fifth, the Irish Gold Cup. His weakest link is in the fifth when he sends out the fifth favorite Shanbally Kid at 8-1. Green Splendour is co-favorite at 7/2 in the finale.
Mullins deserves his arsenal, has earned his battalion. Professional and prolific, Mullins has resolutely become the most dominant trainer in the history of the game. He could have a career in an afternoon today.
Despite Mullins’ dominance, the Irish Gold Cup attracted 10 runners. Galopin Des Champs, the two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, seeks his 14th career victory. Stablemate Fact To File beat him in November. Galopin Des Champs regained his position with a dominant win over his understudy in December. Beyond them come Embassy Gardens, Monty’s Star, Inothewayurthinkin, Hewick, I Am Maximus, Grangeclare West, Minella Cocooner and Conflated.
A Grand National winner, a King George VI winner, an Irish Gold Cup winner…
Drop the flag.
And, there goes the sweep. Hello Neighbour for Gravin Cromwell, just won the second. Sainte Lucie faded. Races on paper and races on course.
