Leopardstown Tips - Dublin Racing Festival day two selections

There are two runners I want to back each-way in this wide-open handicap, starting with Ted Walsh's runner GAOTH CHUIL. Denis O'Regan's mount ran very well in the novices' handicap hurdle here at Leopardstown over Christmas, where she led approaching the last but got a little tired and lost momentum after getting squashed against the rail by Spirit Of Legend. 

Gaoth Chuil still ran very well that day in a race that's working out well and this drop back in trip should suit too.

I'm also going to take a chance on POPOVA, who kicked clear to win a maiden around Thurles on her debut under rules in December, and ran a blinder to place second at that same venue last time out. 

Henry De Bromhead's mare didn't see out 18-furlongs on very soft ground at Fairyhouse on New Years Day, but better ground around a speed track like Leopardstown should be much more to her liking. 122 seems a highly-workable handicap mark.

Five Willie Mullins runners will line up to have a crack at MIGHTY POTTER. The only Mullins runner I'd feel happy about backing is James Du Berlais, but I'm not confident that he'll be good enough to beat the market leader.

A two-time Grade One winner over hurdles, Mighty Potter came through his chase debut at Down Royal in November, despite a couple of sticky jumps. Gordon Elliott's star jumped beautifully in the Drinmore second time out, where he comfortably beat Gaillard Du Mesnil, who reopposes today and has since won a Grade One over three miles. Mighty Potter won his first Grade One around Leopardstown last season and quick ground will certainly be to his liking.

Blue Lord is more than likely going to win this. He brings by far the best form to the table. 2/7, however, is a terrible price.

In the "betting without the favourite" market, Gentleman De Mee is priced up at 5/4, despite three shocking runs so far this season. I'd much rather back DUNVEGAN, who finished second behind Chacun Pour Soi in this race 12 months ago and returns to Leopardstown on the back of a fine second in the Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse.

Gordon Elliott runs three novices in this handicap, including market leader Indigo Breeze. MARS HARPER looks just as well-treated as the favourite and he can be backed at a much longer price.

Elliott's charge ran 15 times over hurdles last season, placing in handicaps at Leopardstown over Christmas and at the Galway Festival last July. Mars Harper was only narrowly beaten by Mighty Potter when the two made their chasing debuts at Down Royal, before going onto finish second in a Grade Two at Punchestown just two weeks later. Mars Harper didn't run that well at Naas last time out, but he should be much more effective back in handicap company off this opening mark of 128.

I'm also going to take a punt on TAKE ALL, as he makes his first start for Shark Hanlon. Jody McGarvey's mount ran really well on his final two starts for Seamus Fahey, finishing second under top-weight as Farceur Du Large won at Punchestown, before a six-length defeat behind Real Steel here at Leopardstown over Christmas. 

I don't think Take All really saw out three miles that day, so this drop back in trip should suit and there's every chance the move to Hanlon's yard could spark a return to winning ways.

Read our full guide to the 2023 Irish Champion Hurdle to find out who we're backing in today's feature at Leopardstown.

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Willie Mullins has described Facile Vega as a "slow-burner" this season. Considering last year's Champion Bumper winner has thrashed his opponents on both hurdles starts to date, that quote sounds like a warning to any novices brave enough to take Mullins' star on here at Leopardstown and again in the Supreme at Cheltenham.

Again, I'm going to delve into the "betting without the favourite" special market, where I'm more than happy to take on High Definition. Instead, I'll side with Willie Mullins' second-string, DARK RAVEN, who extended his unbeaten record to three with a maiden hurdles triumph here at Leopardstown over Christmas, where he comfortably beat a future winner of Gordon Elliott's, as the top two pulled 16 lengths clear of the chasing pack.

No-one can doubt that the most talented horse in this race is Gaelic Warrior and Mullins' five-year-old could still be well-handicapped off this mark of 143. That being said, 7/4 isn't an attractive price in 17-runner handicap hurdle, especially when the favourite is likely to jump out to his right around this sharp, left-handed track.

An interesting alternative against the favourite is Joseph O'Brien's juvenile COMMON PRACTICE. Luke Dempsey's mount won nicely on his third hurdles start at Galway in October and went on to run a cracker in the Grade Three Juvenile Hurdle on Royal Bond day at Fairyhouse, where the 50/1 outsider was in there pitching with Lossiemouth and Zarak The Brave right up until the final flight, where he made a bad mistake and faded back to fourth.

Common Practice won the race for second behind the ultra-impressive Blood Destiny three weeks ago, staying on well to finish half-a-length ahead of stablemate Nusret. O'Brien's four-year-old has experience running in large-field handicaps from his time on the flat and he'll sneak into this contest right at the bottom of the weights.

None of Willie Mullins' five runners even hit the frame as Lily Du Berlais won this race 12 months ago, but I can't see that unlikely occurrence happening again. Fun Fun Fun has been backed into favouritism since she became the chosen mount of Patrick Mullins, who both bred the horse and rode her to victory on her career debut at Sligo back in October.

Jodie Townend has been left riding FANCY GIRL, who Patrick rode to an impressive victory at Cork in early January. Fancy Girl made all the running under a seven-pound penalty that day, holding off some decent rivals on fairly testing ground. Being by Champs Elysees, Fancy Girl should be much more comfortable on quicker going. Patrick may have made the wrong decision.