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Dublin Racing Festival

Brighterdaysahead to miss Irish Champion Hurdle but stellar cast still set for Dublin Racing Festival after Tuesday's forfeits

Gaelic Warrior, State Man and Galopin Des Champs: on course for the Dublin Racing Festival
Gaelic Warrior, State Man and Galopin Des Champs: on course for the Dublin Racing Festival

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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Assessing the contenders for the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown on Saturday - including the Willie Mullins-trained favourite 

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West Country correspondent

Published on inDublin Racing Festival

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