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Saturday's Horse Racing Tips: Best Bets for Dublin Racing Festival and Sandown
It's Dublin Racing Festival weekend, and our horse racing correspondent Jonathan Doidge has meticulously analysed the best bets on Saturday's card both at Leopardstown and Sandown Park. With key races subject to morning inspections, here are the expert selections for punters to consider.
Dublin Racing Festival Highlights at Leopardstown
The Dublin Racing Festival serves as a crucial stepping stone towards Cheltenham, with numerous Festival hopefuls competing at Leopardstown, pending an 8am inspection on Saturday. The Sandown card also faces a potential inspection, but if proceedings go ahead, several contenders stand out on betting platforms.
Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (13.15, Leopardstown)
Willie Mullins saddles the ante-post favourite Doctor Steinberg for the DRF opener, a Grade 2 winner at Navan who demonstrated staying power over 2m4f. However, he encounters formidable competition from Gordon Elliott's pair Kazansky, a Grade 2 winner, and Santo Sospir, a recent Clonmel hurdle victor who relishes the ground.
Among other contenders in this Grade 1 event is Mullins' apparent second string LOVE ME TENDER. Currently priced at 8/1 on betting apps, this bumper and Grade 3 hurdle winner appears undervalued. Having previously won by a significant margin over 2m3f, his third-place finish in a Grade 1 here at Christmas over a shorter trip was respectable. The increased distance should suit him better, making him a strong candidate for a place or better at attractive odds.
Saturday racing tip 1: Love Me Tender – 0.5pts each-way @ 8/1 (Ladbrokes)
Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle (14.25, Leopardstown)
A large field assembles for this Listed handicap hurdle, presenting a challenging form analysis. After thorough examination, STAFFORDSHIRE KNOT emerges as the standout selection. Gordon Elliott has multiple entries, indicating insider knowledge of their capabilities from current marks.
Even without that insight, Staffordshire Knot's public form is compelling for this race. Carrying 12st over three miles is demanding, but his class and trainer's preference for wet conditions—benefiting from recent rainfall—enhance his prospects. This eight-year-old continues to improve with each performance and offers excellent value at 20/1 for an each-way wager.
Saturday racing tip 2: Staffordshire Knot – 1pt each-way @ 20/1 (Ladbrokes)
Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (15.30, Leopardstown)
This race features an exceptional lineup, including two Cheltenham Gold Cup winners, a multiple Irish Gold Cup winner, and other top performers like Affordable Fury. Dual Cheltenham Gold Cup and Irish Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs leads the ante-post market, justified by his stellar record despite a recent setback in the Savills Chase.
Willie Mullins fields eight of the 15 declared runners, including GAELIC WARRIOR and Fact To File. While both are respected, Gaelic Warrior at 11/2 represents value. His respectable performance in the King George VI Chase, toughness, and prime age of eight make him a strong each-way contender. Officially rated only 3lb below the favourite, he could secure a top-three finish or even challenge for victory if Galopin Des Champs underperforms.
Saturday racing tip 3: Gaelic Warrior – 1pt each-way @ 11/2 (Unibet)
Barberstown Castle Handicap Chase (16.05, Leopardstown)
Henry De Bromhead's JASKO DES DAMES, fifth in last season's Grand Annual at Cheltenham, offers value at 8/1 in this 2m1f contest. He boasts strong form for this race and enters freshened after tiring at Cheltenham in October. With previous success on soft ground and experience in competitive races, he remains unexposed after just eight chase starts and has potential to improve and contend for a place or win.
Saturday racing tip 4: Jasko Des Dames – 1pt each-way @ 8/1 (BetVictor)
Sandown Park Selections
Virgin Bet A Good Bet Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (13.25, Sandown Park)
This open race features several chances, but NORN IRON stands out as likely to benefit from the step up to 2m4f. Harry Cobden takes the mount for Harry Derham's eight-year-old, whose pedigree suggests longer trips suit him. Returning to this distance after a close second in a previous attempt, he should show improvement on soft ground and could break his duck over fences.
Saturday racing tip 5: Norn Iron – 1pt win @ 9/2 (Bet365)
Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (15.10, Sandown Park)
A significant prize is on offer in this stayers' handicap hurdle, where last year's winner RED DIRT ROAD could repeat his success. Trained by the O'Neills and ridden by Jonjo O'Neill Jr., he won by eight lengths from this year's favourite Henri The Second in heavy conditions last year. From a 6lb higher mark, he remains a threat given his good record when fresh, despite a poor final run last season. At double-figure odds compared to Henri The Second's 3/1, he represents value.
Saturday racing tip 6: Red Dirt Road – 1pt each-way @ 10/1 (Ladbrokes)
Free Bet Offer and Responsible Gambling
LiveScore Bet offers a money-back promotion for the 15.10 at Sandown, where if Red Dirt Road finishes second, third, or fourth, punters receive a free bet refund up to £10 on the win part of each-way bets. No opt-in is required.
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