Rachael Blackmore on the Dublin Racing Festival: Lossiemouth to edge Irish Champion Hurdle

• Rachael Blackmore on Sunday at the Dublin Racing Festival

• Blackmore delivers Irish Champion Hurdle verdict

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13:10 - Ladbrokes Novice Chase

I loved Final Demand in Limerick, I thought he was such a natural jumper, and he got the job done easily. He was a top-class novice hurdler last season, and he jumps his fences so well.  He looks to be such a fluent jumper, an absolute pleasure to ride.  He is obviously the one they all have to beat. 

There are only five runners, but it's still going to be interesting to see how it plays out.  Kaid D'Authie was impressive in winning his beginners' chase at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day, and Jimmy Du Seuil, last year's Coral Cup winner, beat The Big Westerner in winning his beginners' chase at Fairyhouse in November before he was well-beaten by Final Demand on the heavy ground at Limerick over Christmas.  He could bounce back from that on better ground. 

But Western Fold is the one who could get closest to Final Demand.  He won the Galway Plate and he beat Affordale Fury in the Grade 2 Champion Chase at Gowran before finishing third in the Grade 1 Champion Chase at Down Royal in November.  He was only just over five lengths behind Envoi Allen, and we know how good Envoi Allen is at Down Royal, in that race. 

As a Galway Plate winner, he might have preference for nicer ground, but he might get away with it at Leopardstown, it rarely gets really heavy at Leopardstown, especially on the chase track at Leopardstown, despite all the rain that they have had.  

13:40 - Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle

This should be a really good race.  Ballyfad looked very good in winning his maiden hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.  He quickened away smartly from his rivals, and the runner-up Leader D'Allier was impressive himself in winning his maiden hurdle at Punchestown on Monday.

Talk The Talk had just hit the front in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas when he fell at the final flight, and he should be a big player in the race, while Blake was only just beaten in the Royal Bond Hurdle at Fairyhouse in November.  Also, Henry's horse Mister Pessimistic is a big price, but they think a good bit of him.  He didn't run as well as you would have liked at Leopardstown at Christmas, but he didn't have a smooth passage through the race, and the team at Knockeen will be expecting a big improvement from him. 

But King Rasco Grey could be the one.  It appeared as if he won his maiden hurdle at Limerick over Christmas with a little bit in hand, and that race is working out very well.  The runner-up Shuttle Diplomacy, who finished third in last year's Champion Bumper, was impressive in winning his maiden hurdle at Naas on Sunday, and the fourth horse, I Started A Joke, won his maiden hurdle at Punchestown a few weeks ago by over eight lengths.  

King Rasco Grey should come forward from that too, his first run over hurdles and his first run since May. 

14:10 - Ladbrokes Dublin Chase 

Marine Nationale is the horse to beat here.  He did very well at Christmas to get back into the position that he did after the mistake that he made early in the race.  The ground is going to be softer than ideal for him, but Leopardstown is such a quick-draining track, it may not be really heavy by Sunday, especially on the chase track, and he could have the class to see him through in less than ideal conditions.   

He is a top-class two-mile chaser.  He was obviously very good in Cheltenham in March too in winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Solness is a danger.  When he gets into a rhythm around Leopardstown, it can be hard to peg him back, and he is one who definitely can't be discounted.  He ran a brilliant race at Christmas. 

Majborough is obviously a very talented horse, but his jumping, as we know, can let him down at times.  I think the slower ground will help him a bit, but there is not going to be any room for error in a race like this.

15:20 - Timeless Sash Windows Irish Champion Hurdle 

It's the re-match between Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead in the Irish Champion Hurdle, and it's going to be fascinating to see how it plays out this time. 

I think that Lossiemouth might just shade it again.  She is such a high-class mare, she has never been out of the first two when she has completed.  She has run 16 times, she has won 13 times and finished second twice.  She fell in her only other race.  It's a remarkable record. 

I think that conditions will really suit her.  She stays two-and-a-half miles well, she is five for five over two-and-a-half miles, and her stamina is going to come into play.   

Gordon has been very encouraging on Brighterdaysahead, about how much she has come forward from her run the last day, her first run of the season. And she's a top-class mare too. 

Anzadam is going to be in the mix as well, he could play a role, and El Fabiolo was impressive on his return to hurdles at Punchestown on New Year's Eve.  It will be a fascinating race, but it could come down to a battle between the two mares again and, of the two, I just prefer Lossiemouth.

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