3 minute read
El Fabiolo and Gaelic Warrior are the star names to head the Dublin Racing Festival declarations on Sunday.
Many were surprised to see the absence of Gaelic Warrior in Saturday's Irish Arkle but Willie Mullins' star novice chaser is set to take on stablemates Fact To File and Grangeclare West in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase over two miles and four furlongs. It is expected to be one of the highlights of the weekend with Grangeclare West boasting a Grade 1 victory in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase over the festive period and Fact To File a wide margin victor of a Leopardstown novice chase on his last start. The Mullins-trained trio will take Gordon Elliot's two runners – American Mike and Found A Fifty.
El Fabiolo is set to take on four opponents after connections decided to divert the star two mile chaser to Dublin after the abandonment of the Clarence House Chase meeting at Ascot. The remaining quartet is headed by stablemate Dinoblue, who made a successful transition into Grade 1 company when taking the Paddy's Reward Club Chase at Leopardstown.
Willie Mullins also dominates the declarations for the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle, with State Man edging favouritism over stablemate Impaire Et Passe. The duo will be joined by Echoes in Rain, Bob Olinger and Fils D'oudairies.
It appears to be a match race between Ballyburn and Farren Glory in the Tattersalls Ireland 50th Derby Sale Novice Hurdle, with the latter hoping to get back on track following a fall.
