The Dublin Racing Festival headlines one of the most exciting weekends in jumps racing from this Saturday. However, with Grade 1 action at Sandown and plenty of ITV races at Musselburgh too, the GG Weekend Watch team have provided their best bets for you to follow.
You can back any of the team’s selections with BetMGM who are offering new customers £40 in free bets when you deposit and bet £10.
2:15 Musselburgh – Edinburgh National Handicap Chase
Andrew: “I’m gonna go with MAGNA SAM, last year’s winner, trained by Shropshire based Alastair Ralph. He won this race last year, going into it unbeaten at the track. He duly won that on stable debut by 4½ lengths at 22/1 after being off since May. He reappeared at Musselburgh again this season, but ran as if he needed the run after being weak in the betting late over 2m7½f, which is probably too short for him. It was on soft ground as well, which wouldn’t have been ideal. Coming back to this race, 4lb higher than last year having won it comfortably, he’s probably worth a bit of an interest.
The other interesting one was BRANDY MCQUEEN, who was a huge eyecatcher in last year’s Pertemps Final, finishing seventh at a huge price of 80/1. First time out, I left him alone at Kelso where he duly won by 19 lengths on his chase debut. He has been beaten the next twice, but he does tend to come good at this time of year. He could run a big race given he has a good record at this track and I’ll save on him.”
Kate: “I thought at a bigger price at 18s, CHRISTOPHER WOOD. I’m very interested to see what he could do in this race. The form of Venetia Williams’ team is waning somewhat, but he is trying a marathon trip for the first time. He is a thorough stayer on the flat and shaped like a horse who wanted much further last time out over 2m5f. His last win came at this meeting in 2021 in the Scottish County Hurdle for Paul Nicholls, but is way down the weights having not won in five starts over fences, rated 129, 11lb lower than his hurdles mark. If he does need a marathon trip, at a track he likes, he is worth a bit of a squeak.”
2:35 Sandown – Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
Dave: “Despite the absence of Gaelic Warrior and Corbetts Cross for Ireland, we do still have an absolute weapon running in this race. HERMES ALLEN (NAP) is going to absolutely bolt up in this. I think he is a proper Grade 1 horse. His run behind Il Est Francais at Kempton was his first run over 3m and going right-handed, while it wasn’t even his first choice of race as stablemate Knappers Hill was meant to go there. He wouldn’t have been trained to the minute for that, but they did talk about this race after his Grade 2 John Francome win. We know how much hype there is about Il Est Francais, but Hermes Allen was up there with him for the majority of the race. I think he is a clear Grade 1 novice chaser. I don’t know what they are thinking regarding Cheltenham now that Ginny’s Destiny will probably go to the Turners, so maybe they will keep Hermes back for Aintree, though I’d love to see a clash between him and Gaelic Warrior. This race is taylor-made for him, so get stuck in at 6/4, he bolts up!”
Andrew: “After he finished second to Il Est Francais, I thought I’d want top back Hermes Allen wherever he runs next. But after they entered him over this trip at Sandown…will the track suit? It has been said that Hermes Allen is better on a flat track and that they’d skip Cheltenham to go to Aintree. Of his top five RPRs, the best three have come at Newbury twice and Kempton, with one more at Aintree where he was third. When the trainer tells you he is worried about undulating tracks and he is 6/4 to win a Grade 1 at Sandown, I can leave him at that sort of price despite wanting to be with him after that excellent Kempton run. Djelo I’m not keen on after falling last time, while Colonel Harry tends to bounce back to win after a defeat, but he won last time at Wetherby. I’ll go with LE PATRON for Gary Moore, an in-form yard, while the horse likes this track.”
Kate: “I’m going to join you on LE PATRON (NAP) despite the strong case Dave made for Hermes Allen! Winner of the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ last time out over 2m, where people may have felt he took best to the heavy ground. However, Colonel Hary, who he beat, is a proper soft ground horse, so I don’t buy into that theory. He was a bit of a shock winner at 16/1 that day, but I think the better ground might just suit him, with wins on good and good-to-soft, over this course and distance, before his Grade 1 win. The form line between Il Est Francais and Hermes Allen might be standout, but it could be let down by those in behind: Kilbeg King was only three lengths behind Hermes Allen and that might just make you question the form. Le Patron is the highest-rated form in the race, and Colonel Harry and JPR One, who were in behind, have won Grade 2s since.”
3:35 Leopardstown – Irish Gold Cup (Grade 1)
Dave: “I’m probably neither a backer or a layer of Galopin Des Champs at this point. I can’t think of anything other than Galopin Des Champs routing these, but the time to back him was last time.”
Andrew: “I’d be a backer, and I’d be against Fastorslow in the forecast or without the favourite market. I’ve got him down more as a spring horse: he was short-headed in the Coral Cup in 2022, then was second at Aintree. Last season, he was chinned by Corach Rambler at the Festival, then won the Punchestown Gold Cup. I know he won first time out in November this season, but Galopin Des Champs was below par and jumped like a pig; I think that race fell apart. He has never won in the December-February period, so I just don’t think he is going to be at his best. I think it’s all systems for Cheltenham to beat Galopin Des Champs there. I think the bet is two forecasts: GALOPIN DES CHAMPS to beat CONFLATED (NAP), or GALOPIN DES CHAMPS to beat I AM MAXIMUS, the other two horses in the race.”
Cheltenham Chat
Dave: “Not that you need to be told, but just make sure you watch the racing. In terms of looking forward to Cheltenham, you are likely best waiting until after this weekend, although FULL BACK I think will go to the Ultima and is worth following at Sandown this weekend. Other than that, sit back, watch and show a bit of patience.”
Andrew: “If FASTORSLOW does not run to market expectations, I would still be interested in his Gold Cup chances given my spring horse theory.”
Andrew Mount’s Big Race Selections
Andrew Mount’s tips for Saturday 3rd February.
Dave Young’s Big Race Selections
Dave Young’s tips for Saturday 3rd February.
Kate Tracey’s Big Race Selections
Kate Tracey’s tips for Saturday 3rd February.
Don’t forget to check out fellow Weekend Watch pundit Matty Sutcliffe’s selections for this weekend, as well as Dave Young’s weekly Cheltenham ante-post picks.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Weekend Pointers & Punts
Dave Young’s Cheltenham Ante-Post Book
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