What potential Cheltenham or Aintree winners emerged from the DRF?

Another magnificent Dublin Racing Festival is in the books and, once more, plenty of horses who appeared at Leopardstown are likely to shine at the remainder of the major spring jumps festivals.

In 2024, a total of 11 horses who ran at the Dublin Racing Festival in February went on to win at Cheltenham in March.

With that in mind, we are picking out some weekend runners from the DRF that may shine in England at either Cheltenham or Aintree in the months to come.

Kopek Des Bordes

Starting with the most obvious of them all, perhaps, the extremely impressive Kopek Des Bordes. The Willie Mullins-trained star routed the field in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle, further embellishing a stellar record for the champion trainer in the Grade 1 contest.

Mullins has now won 12 of the last 13 renewals. Stars like Champagne Fever, Vautour, Klassical Dream, Appreciate It and Ballyburn have scored before tasting Grade 1 novice glory in the Cotswolds.

The one year Mullins was denied, 2018, Samcro scored for Gordon Elliott and won the intermediate Cheltenham Grade 1 novice.

Kopek Des Bordes remains unbeaten following Sunday's win at Leopardstown. His jumping was a bit of a mess when he won over C&D on jumping bow at Christmas but this time it was much better.

Despite racing keenly and being set alight by a loose horse some way from home, Paul Townend's partner motored home to win 13-lengths, given the appearance he'd scarcely got out of third gear.

The Cheltenham Festival curtain raiser on March 11th is his next stop and it looks as though something special will be needed to stop him.

Galopin Des Champs

The dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero, Galopin Des Champs remains unbowed in seven starts over fences around Leopardstown and now has three Irish Gold Cups on his CV after Saturday's storming success.

Paul Townend's partner was out in front most of the way, but he appeared to have a major battle on his hands when the challengers stacked up in behind jumping the second last.

Galopin Des Champs cleared the final fence still just ahead and powered home to win by nearly five lengths, with his rider struggling to pull him up after the line.

He is now attaining the superstar status he deserves. He has the chance to become the first horse since Best Mate to win the Blue Riband three times at Cheltenham and, still just a nine-year-old, his phenomenal tally might not stop here.

Wingmen

Ultimately, the Elliott-trained Wingmen had no answer to Final Demand in the opening Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Saturday, but it was another rock-solid showing from a very reliable performer.

The Bective Stud-owned gelding has now been placed in Grade 1s over 2m4f and 2m6f on his last two starts. He was clear of the remainder behind the Mullins-trained hotpot on this occasion.

Grade 1 aspirations at Cheltenham are probably beyond him, but he's worth keeping in mind for a possible tilt at one of the handicaps, or even come April at Aintree during the Grand National Festival, where Elliott's horses have really started to shine in recent seasons.

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