Brighterdaysahead to miss Irish Champion Hurdle but stellar cast still set for Dublin Racing Festival after Tuesday's forfeits
Brighterdaysahead was the notable omission at Tuesday's forfeit stage for a star-studded Dublin Racing Festival, with Galopin Des Champs, Lossiemouth and Gaelic Warrior on course to appear at Leopardstown this weekend.
Brighterdaysahead, a 30-length Grade 1 winner over Christmas, will miss the Irish Champion Hurdle on Sunday (3.20). Willie Mullins has four of the six runners left in the mix, including favourite Lossiemouth and two-time winner State Man.
Find out what Gordon Elliott has to say on Brighterdaysahead missing Leopardstown:
The Closutton trainer won all six Grade 1 races across the two days at Leopardstown last season and Galopin Des Champs once again headlines his team. He will bid for a hat-trick in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3.30) on Saturday where Fact To File is among ten rivals. Monty's Star and Hewick are also on course with Gerri Colombe the big name to be scratched.
Mullins will saddle El Fabiolo for his first start of the season in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (2.10) on Sunday. He won easily last season but faces stiff opposition in stablemate Gaelic Warrior as well as Marine Nationale and Solness. Banbridge and Energumene were among those taken out.
The field for the Goffs Irish Arkle (2.55) reduced from nine to six with favourite Majborough still in contention while Final Demand headlines the Nathaniel Lacy Solicitors Novice Hurdle (1.15) and Triumph hopefuls Hello Neighbour and Sainte Lucie take each other on in the Gannon's City Recovery Juvenile Hurdle (1.50)
On Sunday, Ballyburn looks to bounce back from his defeat to Sir Gino in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase (1.10) and exciting prospects Kopek Des Bordes and Kaid d'Authie are among runners in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (1.40).
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Published on inDublin Racing Festival
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- 'To reverse the form this is what he'll have to do' - legends Carberry and Swan on Fact To File v Galopin Des Champs round three
- 'Galopin Des Champs hasn't captured the public's imagination like Constitution Hill' - why not?
- How does Galopin Des Champs compare to the chasing greats?
- 'I might have got it completely wrong but I don't think I have' - Warren Greatrex preparing to enter DRF lion's den
- Confirmed runners and riders for the Grade 1 races on the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday