Leopardstown Tips - Dublin Racing Festival day one selections

Saturday's card opens with a fascinating Grade One. Good Land comes into this on the back of an excellent maiden hurdle triumph at the Christmas meeting. Sandor Clegane was impressive when winning his own novice hurdle. Quais De Paris has been heavily backed since Paul Townend was confirmed in the saddle and British raider, Weveallbeencaught had his own maiden hurdle victory boosted when runner-up, Rock My Way landed a Grade Two last weekend.

I'm going to have a risky punt on AMERICAN MIKE, who was last seen crossing the line a very tired second behind Dawn Rising at Navan back in November. Gordon Elliott's star was one of Ireland's top bumper horses last season and thrashed a useful rival in Letsbeclearaboutit when making a winning hurdles debut over this distance at Down Royal. 

If Elliott has gotten to the bottom of what was clearly ailing American Mike at Navan, then he should play a leading role.

Lossiemouth is practically impossible to oppose, but there's little to be gained from backing the favourite at 4/11. With three paid places up for grabs, there's plenty of scope for an each-way punt on one of the outsiders.

ASCENDING was narrowly beaten by another of today's runners, Tekao when they met here at Leopardstown over Christmas. Henry De Bromhead's runner is entitled to come on for that first run over obstacles and he's certainly in the discussion for the places.

Appreciate It will establish himself as the clear favourite in the build-up to this Grade One, following Paul Townend's decision to ride the former Supreme winner. Personally, I'd rather swerve the market leader. Appreciate It struggled with injuries last season, running just once, and Townend's mount is yet to face a rival of any note in either of his two starts over fences.

Danny Mullins, one of the best front-running jockeys in the business, will be tasked with riding the typically head-strong DYSART DYNAMO. A tearaway over hurdles, Willie Mullins' second-string settled much quicker on his first start over fences here at Leopardstown, thrashing three rivals by 28 lengths without ever being asked for a serious effort. 

Speed counts for plenty around this tight, left-handed track and there's no doubt in my mind that Dysart Dynamo is the quickest horse in this field. If he jumps well, I think he'll win.

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Maxxum ran out a hugely impressive winner of the Pertemps Qualifier here over Christmas and he's certainly a worthy favourite, despite an 18-pound rise in the weights. 4/1, however, isn't the sort of price that appeals to me in a large-field handicap hurdle, so I'll look for an alternative sitting at a much longer price.

FREEDOM TO DREAM reverts back to hurdles, having jumped poorly on both of his starts in beginners chases. Peter Fahey's charge finished fourth in the Nathaniel Lacy at this meeting last season, before registering further fourth-placed finishes in handicaps at Cheltenham and Punchestown. Freedom To Dream is now running off a four-pound lower mark than what he placed off in the Martin Pipe on Gold Cup day, and Michael O'Sullivan takes a further five pounds off his back.

A Wave Of The Sea returns to try and defend his crown and Joseph O'Brien has called upon Aidan Kelly to take seven pounds off his back. I prefer the chances of last year's runner-up GRANGE WALK, who was narrowly beaten off this same mark 12 months ago.

John Ryan's eight-year-old returns to Leopardstown on the back of two 12 length defeats, where he wasn't particularly fancied in the betting. Returning to the scene of his two best performances is certainly a plus for Grange Walk and Liam Quinlan's claimer leaves him carrying a workable weight.

The strongest piece of form here could belong to FACT TO FILE, who scored over 20-furlongs here at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival. Patrick Mullins' mount looked set for second as Irish Panther cantered to the front, but Willie Mullins' charge picked up the better of the two and ground out a two-length victory.

Fact To File received an RPR of 132 for that victory, an excellent opening mark by anyone's standards and I can't see this drop in trip causing him any problems.