Three Horses To Follow At The 2023 Dublin Racing Festival

By Brian Hayes Feb 17th, 2025 11:48 AM EDT

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The upcoming weekend is an absolute cracker, and like everyone involved in Irish horse racing, I can’t wait.

I have two rides on Saturday, both for Willie Mullins. In the Spring Juvenile, I ride Cinsa and in the Irish Arkle, I ride Flame Bearer. Cinsa was bought as a result of a good fourth behind Lossiemouth at Auteuil. We should learn a lot more about her here.

I’m also particularly looking forward to Flame Bearer, as he’s a horse I like at home and put him up on this blog as a horse to follow for the season. 

On Sunday, I also have two spins for Willie Mullins in the form of Rambranlt'jac and Adamantly Chosen. I know these two horses quite well, and I’m hopeful of decent runs from them both. Rambranlt'jac showed definite promise in a big handicap last time and Adamantly Chosen ran a big race in the Grade One at Limerick when finishing second. Let's hope the winner that day, Gerri Colombe, can give us a form boost at Sandown on Saturday. 

The better ground should definitely suit Adamantly Chosen on Sunday also.

Three To Follow For The Dublin Racing Festival

There is so much brilliant racing on, that we thought it would make sense to pick out three 'dark' horses to follow at the weekend. Hopefully the three of them can go well.

A Dream To Share – 4.40 Leopardstown (Saturday)

I think the 12/1 on offer about A Dream To Share is a bit too big. He has done everything right so far, and I was particularly taken with how well he won at Tipperary on debut in May 2022. 

He rather easily beat Rath Gaul Boy that day, a horse who before this had won well at Leopardstown, and finished fifth in a very strong bumper at Aintree. A Dream To Share was getting weight that day, but the manner in which he won, was very taking. He's 16/1 at the moment, but has given the impression he's a nice horse and could cause a mini-shock here.

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Dark Raven – 3.40 Leopardstown (Sunday)

I was torn between picking James Du Berlais and Dark Raven here, as I’ve mentioned them both so many times this season, but it will be interesting to see how Dark Raven shapes against Facile Vega.

He won very well over Christmas, and could be one to go up in trip. This race is definitely a watching brief, but he could be beaten here and still enhance his festival claims.

I’ve always liked him at home and while Facile Vega does look a bit special, Dark Raven will pay his way in time.

Fun Fun Fun – 4.40 Leopardstown (Sunday)

This is another extremely hot bumper, this time for the Mares, but I think Fun Fun Fun could turn out to be quite good.

She won doing cartwheels at Sligo and was visually very impressive as she beat Tomas O Maille by an easy 10 lengths. I like her work at home, and think she can definitely make her claim here under Patrick.

About the Author

Brian Hayes

More About Brian

Brian Hayes is a leading Irish jockey based with the Willie Mullins yard and regular rider at all the big national hunt racing festivals including Galway, Punchestown Aintree and Cheltenham. The Cork native has ridden high in the riding ranks despite not hailing from a racing background and quickly becoming a relied on partner for some of the best horses in top training yards.

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