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Dublin Racing Festival

Confirmed runners and riders for the four Grade 1s on the second day of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on Sunday

State Man and Lossiemouth clash in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle, a showdown to savour on Saturday
State Man (left) and Lossiemouth: a showdown to savour in the Irish Champion Hurdle on Sunday

The State Man and Lossiemouth clash is on at Leopardstown on Sunday as both titans were declared for the Irish Champion Hurdle (3.20). 

The Willie Mullins-trained pair were due to meet in the Morgiana Hurdle in November, but Lossiemouth was pulled out at a late stage due to a stone bruise. Another mare, Brighterdaysahead, went on to beat State Man at Punchestown.

State Man will bid for a hat-trick in Sunday's Grade 1 but comes into the second day of the Dublin Racing Festival off a poor start to the season, having been beaten by 31 lengths on his last start.

However, Paul Townend has kept the faith with last year's Champion Hurdle winner and will be aboard as he bids for an 11th top-level success. Patrick Mullins was originally down to ride Lossiemouth but the leading mare is now the mount of Danny Mullins.

Paul Townend: was superb on Spindleberry at Cork on Friday
Paul Townend: will ride hat-trick-seeker State Man in the Irish Champion HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

She will receive a 7lb weight allowance, but will also need to bounce back from defeat having finished second to Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton in December.

Mullins also saddles Winter Fog and Daddy Long Legs, while the sole runner coming from outside of Closutton is the Gordon Elliott-trained Fils D'Oudairies, who finished fourth to Constitution Hill in the Unibet Hurdle on Saturday.

Elsewhere on the card, two other Mullins heavyweights will do battle in the Dublin Chase (2.10) as the returning El Fabiolo faces Gaelic Warrior.

The former will be ridden by the owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede's retained rider JJ Slevin, while Townend will reunite with Gaelic Warrior after Patrick Mullins partnered him in his disappointing reappearance behind Solness at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Solness, last year's Champion Chase winner Captain Guinness, Marine Nationale, Quilixios, Senecia and Gentleman De Mee complete the field.

Mullins will also be to the fore in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase (1.10) as he runs the Brown Advisory favourite Ballyburn, Champ Kiely and Impaire Et Passe.

Ballyburn and Paul Townend win at Punchestown
Ballyburn: another big name in action on day two of the Dublin Racing FestivalCredit: Patrick McCann

The former was put in his place by Sir Gino in the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day but boasts a sky-high reputation and near-immaculate record and will bid to bounce back, while Impaire Et Passe was rerouted after connections opted to avoid a possible Scilly Isles tilt.

The Supreme Novices' Hurdle picture could become clearer with the outcome of the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (1.40), with more Mullins firepower facing off in Kopek Des Bordes and Kaid D'Authie, who hold Cheltenham Festival entries.

The top trainer also runs Redemption Day, Karafon, Karinquet and Sea Of Sands, while British trainer Warren Greatrex will make the journey to Leopardstown with Good And Clever. Bleu De Vassy, Eastern Legend and Whinney Hill complete the line-up.

Ladbrokes Novice Chase runners and riders

Arctic Skua Phillip Enright
Ballyburn Paul Townend
Better Days Ahead Danny Gilligan
Champ Kiely Danny Mullins
Croke Park Sam Ewing
Impaire Et Passe JJ Slevin
Prairie Dancer Richie Deegan

Ladbrokes Novice Chase, 1.10 Leopardstown, Sunday
Sponsors: 8-11 Ballyburn, 3 Impaire Et Passe, 5 Champ Kiely, 10 Better Days Ahead, 16 Croke Park, 50 Prairie Dancer, 250 Arctic Skua

Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle runners and riders 

Bleu De Vassy Sam Ewing
Eastern Legend Keith Donoghue
Good And Clever James Bowen
Kaid D'Authie Mark Walsh
Karafon JJ Slevin
Karniquet Patrick Mullins
Kopek Des Bordes Paul Townend
Redemption Day Danny Mullins
Sea Of Sands Brian Hayes
Whinney Hill Danny Gilligan

Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle, 1.40 Leopardstown, Sunday
William Hill: 11-10 Kopek Des Bordes, 9-4 Kaid D'Authie, 17-2 Redemption Day, 9 Bleu De Vassy, 18 Good And Clever, 22 Karafon, 50 bar

Ladbrokes Dublin Chase runners and riders

Captain Guinness Darragh O'Keeffe
El Fabiolo JJ Slevin
Gaelic Warrior Paul Townend
Gentleman Du Mee Mark Walsh
Marine Nationale Sean Flanagan
Quilixios Rachael Blackmore
Senecia Phillip Enright
Solness Danny Mullins

Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, 2.10 Leopardstown, Sunday
Sponsors: 4-5 Gaelic Warrior, 7-2 Marine Nationale, 8 El Fabiolo, Solness, 14 Quilixios, 20 Captain Guinness, 25 Gentleman Du Mee, 100 Senecia

Irish Champion Hurdle runners and riders

Daddy Long Legs Sean O'Keeffe
Fils D'Oudairies Sam Ewing
State Man Paul Townend
Winter Fog Patrick Mullins 
Lossiemouth Danny Mullins

Irish Champion Hurdle, 3.20 Leopardstown, Sunday
William Hill: 4-6 Lossiemouth, 11-8 State Man, 22 Winter Fog, 50 Daddy Long Legs, 100 Fils D'Oudairies


Read more . . .

Confirmed runners and riders for the Grade 1 races on the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday 

Willie Mullins is odds-on to win seven or more Dublin Racing Festival Grade 1s - which of his hotpots should be trusted for your accas? 

How does Galopin Des Champs compare to the chasing greats? 


Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.


Digital journalist

Published on inDublin Racing Festival

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