Saturday Racing Tips: Owen’s best bets for the Dublin Racing Festival

Will it? Won't it? The wait to find out if the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival gets the go ahead has been extended to 8am on Saturday morning, so it's a case of sitting pretty until then. I'm a lot more hopeful than I was on Friday morning, anyway.

Hopefully it passes inspection, for my Saturday racing tips consists of four at Leopardstown.

13:15 Leopardstown - Love Me Tender @ 15/2

Despite the fact the track seems to drain faster than my bank account on payday, it'll be tough going at Leopardstown on Saturday, which is going to catch many out – perhaps Willie Mullins’ LOVE ME TENDER.

However, if the five-year-old son of Doctor Dino, bought by JP McManus after his 18-length triumph on hurdling debut at Kilbeggan last summer, handles it, I think he's got a great chance in what looks a weak renewal of the ‘Nathaniel Lacy’.

He followed up the aforementioned maiden hurdle victory with a facile success in a Grade 3 at Tipperary in October, over 80 days prior to finishing a staying-on third in the G1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.

He didn’t jump well last time out in Dublin, and he looked crying out for a greater test of stamina at the finish. He gets that here and should jump better at a slower pace, too.

For me, he’s well worth chancing at what could look a silly price come about 13:20 on Saturday.

14:55 Leopardstown - Kargese @ 7/4

On ratings, three-time Grade 1 winner Romeo Coolio should take plenty of beating in the Irish Arkle in the absence of Supreme hero Kopek Des Bordes.

Gordon Elliott’s seven-year-old is unbeaten in three starts over fences, including two at the highest level, but has looked most impressive over the intermediate trip.

He made hard work of reeling in Irish Panther over Saturday(or Monday)’s course and distance at 8/15f over Christmas and bar a poor renewal of the aforementioned Future Champions Novice Hurdle in 2024, he consistently came up short over the minimum trip as a hurdler, too.

With that in mind, I’m backing KARGESE for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

The daughter of Jeu St Eloi was a smart juvenile, giving the likes of Majborough and Sir Gino plenty to think about in Grade 1s at Cheltenham and Aintree in the spring, and in open company last year she won the County Hurdle off a mark of 141 before finishing third to State Man and Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace at the Punchestown Festival.

Her debut over the bigger obstacles in a Grade 2 at Cork in early December was modest, but it came at a time the yard’s runners were lacking in the fitness department, and she put in a much-improved effort at Leopardstown over the festive period.

I expect her to take another step forward and in what could be a slowly-run, tactical affair, she may have too much speed for Romeo Coolio and Downmexicoway.

15:30 Leopardstown - I Am Maximus each-way @ 12/1

The only explanation for I AM MAXIMUS being as big as 12s for the Irish Gold Cup is the idea that he’s being minded for another crack at the Grand National in April.

However, I think the booking of Jack Kennedy, who I expected to be on Stellar Story or Firefox for boss Gordon Elliott, suggests he’s there on merit.

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His run in the Savills Chase at Christmas was huge – and not one of a non-trier. Far from it, in fact. He was a staying-on second to Affordale Fury, and just under a length in front of stablemate Galopin Des Champs, under Derek O’Connor at an SP of 50/1.

After that, he deserves a true go at a race like this. If in the same form, he can make a mockery of these odds.

16:05 Leopardstown - Addragoole each-way @ 15/2

Finally, I think ADDRAGOOLE is a good each-way play in the Listed handicap chase over 2m1f.

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The seven-year-old has a 10lb rise – harsh enough in my book – to defy for a ready victory in a competitive event over course and distance on Boxing Day, but one of the best claimers in the business, Thyestes hero Eoin Staples, takes off a handy five.

That victory came during a difficult time for trainer Gavin Cromwell, so it can be marked up, and the yard is in better nick at present.

His back form suggests he’ll go on the ground and he’s open to improvement still, at his age and inexperience in this discipline. He can feature in the first four at least.

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