MULLINS CAN DOMINATE IN DUBLIN

Paul Ferguson with his big race fancies for February

- Paul Ferguson

The month gets underway with the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown, and, following his unbelievable Christmas, Willie Mullins could well dominate again.

His team for the big two-day fixture is likely to be headed by several live contenders for both the Irish Champion Hurdle and the Irish Gold Cup, but the horse I am most looking forward to seeing again is Monkfish. Last year’s Albert Bartlett winner was impressive on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse, before proving too strong for Latest Exhibition over 3m at this track in late December.

Despite racing keenly, he saw the trip out very well, and if he drops back to 2m5f to contest the Flogas Novice Chase, I don’t think it will be of any inconvenience. This imposing seven-year-old appears to have all the tools required to go right to the top as a staying chaser, and he could well be a leading contender for the Gold Cup in 13 months’ time.

Another who currently heads the betting for their Cheltenham Festival target (the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle) is Appreciate It, who is likely to bid to supplement his Christmas success in the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle. Another seven-year-old, he impressed when winning the Grade 2 bumper at this fixture last year, after which he finished runner-up in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Festival. Two-from-two over hurdles to date, I had expected him to need further this season, but he beat Master McShee (won both starts since, including a competitive handicap) over a sharp 2m at Cork, and powered away from the opposition when following up in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle over the festive period. He now looks in the mould of a Champagne Fever, who won this race (when it was the Deloitte and staged over 2m2f) before making all in the Festival opener some eight years ago.