GALOPIN CAN STEP INTO THE FAST’ LANE AND HOLD GROUND

THERE’S no doubt that Dublin has been heaven for Willie Mullins since the two-day Leopardstown Festival was created in 2018.

The 17-times champion trainer has amassed an impressive 38 victories so far in the DRF’S six-year history and he couldn’t be arriving for today’s opening day in any better form.

Mullins (67) and stable jockey Paul Townend have been running riot recently.

In the past three weeks Townend has ridden 21 winners from his last 32 rides – a 66 per cent strike rate – while Mullins is almost at 50 per cent since Christmas.

It’s all very ominous for the opposition ahead of the €2m Dublin racing Festival which begins today with the €250,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup the feature race.

Mullins secured a record eight winners in all at last year’s DRF, including half a dozen of the top-flight contests, and there’s every chance he’ll beat that this year.

Galopin Des CHAMPS (3.35) versus Fastorslow is the match of the meeting.

Floor

Martin Brassil’s eight-year-old has managed to floor the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner on their last two meetings at Punchestown in April and again at the Kildare track in November’s John Durkan.

Both times he came with a brilliantly timed run to chin the Mullins horse.

Since the John Durkan, Galopin Des Champs has produced arguably the best performance from an Irish chaser in decades when winning the Savills’ Chase here at Christmas.

He’s now the highest rated Irish-trained chaser since Moscow Flyer and if he produces a similar level of performance it’s hard to see how Fastorslow can beat him.

There is, however, a concern that the race may have left its mark.

Townend is likely to dictate the pace on Galopin Des Champs and although his jumping was sticky at Punchestown, he was much better at Christmas, and if that’s the case again he should capture this big prize for the second year in succession.

It;s been a real tonic to see Jessica Harrington back on the National Hunt scene with a good horse. Her mare Jetara

(1.20) may be able to beat the Mullins monopoly in the opening 2m6f Grade 1 Novice Hurdle.

She’s from the family of Champion

Hurdle winner Jezki and has really come to life this season.

She has picked off three wins in succession with her latest seven-length victory at this track over Christmas impressive.

She gets a tidy 7lbs allowance from the geldings and Harrington is well capable of picking off a big prize like this.

Six of the 11 runners in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle are housed in Closutton and Paul Townend’s decision to go with Fairyhouse winner storm Heart (1.50) edges the vote.

Marine nationale (2.25) is unbeaten from his five races and sparkled on his chasing debut here over Christmas, jumping immaculately for Michael O’sullivan.

Last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner takes on old foe Facile Vega again in the Grade 1 Goffs Irish Arkle, and it could be a race to savour.

Second

Found a Fifty is a real contender for Gordon elliott but they could all be playing for second if Marine nationale produces his a game.

The 3m Handicap Hurdle is a more open affair and Park of KINGS (3.00) looks of each-way interest off a lightweight for Paul Nolan and the promising young conditional Conor Stone-walsh, claiming 5lbs. He steps up to 3m for the first time.