Dublin Racing Festival 2024 Saturday Tips: Three to consider at Leopardstown

The Dublin Racing Festival starts on Saturday with a cracking card made up of four Grade 1s, a Grade 2 and a couple of Listed handicaps.

I've studied all seven races and come up with a few selections - at 4/1, 7/1 and 14/1 - for consideration.

13:20 - Jetara @ 7/2

The curtain-raiser is the 'Nathaniel Lacy' - a Grade 1 novice hurdle over an extended 2m6f - which has attracted a small but select field of six.

Willie Mullins saddles four, including the favourite Predators Gold. He looks the pick of the Closutton crew and rates a big danger, but the five-year-old is short enough on what he's achieved so far as he steps markedly up in trip.

I'm taking him and the other four runners on with Jetara for Jessie Harrington.

The six-year-old mare, who's a second-season novice, has improved greatly over the last few months, breaking her duck in emphatic fashion at Fairyhouse last November before claiming Listed and Grade 3 - the latter in open company - honours before the turn of the year.

Her form looks as good as anything boasted by her five rivals and she's a strong stayer who should appreciate this greater test of stamina, so she gets my vote.

13:50 - Kargese @ 7/1

Probably the trickiest race of the afternoon is the G1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle, which sees Willie Mullins pit six of his best four-year-olds against one another.

Storm Heart is Townend's pick but again, his price is far too short given the ridiculous amount of potential in this field. I'm more than happy to let him win at current odds of 11/8.

On the contrary, I think Kargese is currently overpriced.

The Jeu St Eloi filly was pitched straight into a Grade 2 - the South Dublin Juvenile Hurdle over course and distance on Boxing Day - on her first run for new connections and gave an excellent account of herself.

She took a very keen hold under Danny Mullins, who maintains the partnership on Saturday, for the majority of the contest, but still managed to mount a dangerous challenge at the business end. She was eventually beaten just under a length by Kala Conti, who was having her third run of the campaign and receiving three pounds, which I thought was a serious effort under the circumstances.

There should be lots more to come and if she settles, I expect Kargese to be competitive at the finish.

16:40 - Jeroboam Machin e/w @ 14/1

It's madness that last year's Champion Bumper winner A Dream To Share and a seven-year-old in Redemption Day, who contested the 2022 edition, can run here, but there's no denying that this Grade 2 bumper has a fascinating look to it.

If he's fully tuned-up, the former ought to be tough to beat. However, he's had issues this term and hasn't been seen since the Punchestown Festival last year, so he's another favourite I want to oppose.

A case could easily be made for any of the other nine runners, but I've settled on Emmet Mullins' Jeroboam Machin at the prices.

The five-year-old son of Joshua Tree was a comfortable winner of a decent race at Fairyhouse in late November last year which was franked when the late D B Cooper finished runner-up to Supreme Novices' Hurdle hopeful No Flies On Him at Leopardstown on Boxing Day.

I don't think that form is at all far off what the likes of You Oughta Know and The Enabler have achieved, yet those two are nearly half the price of the selection. He looks great each-way value to me under top amateur Derek O'Connor.