All eyes on Facile Vega in Leopardstown bumper It might not be a Grade One, but it could be argued the concluding Goffs Future Stars INH Flat Race is as interesting as any race on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival. Facile Vega, a son of the great racemare Quevega, heads the market following a cosy debut success for the Willie Mullins team over the Christmas period. He is joined by stablemate Embassy Gardens. Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: “It’s worth more than the champion bumper at Cheltenham so it’s always very competitive. “Facile Vega certainly looks the part and he was explosive on his debut. “He’ll have to be as good as he looked on debut as Paul Nolan (Sandor Clegane), Peter Fahey (The Big Doyen) and Gordon Elliott (Itswhatunitesus) all run exciting horses but our fellow has a win at the track and that might be a big help.” Peter Fahey has high hopes for The Big Doyen, who is two from two after following up a September win at Roscommon with a 15-length verdict at Punchestown. Fahey said: “He has been working well. He has had a nice break between races, which has helped him, so while it looks a very competitive race, it will kind of let us know where we stand before we head over to Cheltenham.” The Paul Nolan-trained Sandor Clegane is another stepping up in class after a wide-margin introductory success at Punchestown. “The plan is to run as long as we’re happy with the ground. He’s our only entry at the whole Festival and we just want to make sure the ground is on the slow side,” said Nolan. “The horse seems in good shape and we’ll just have to see what the ground is like on the day. “It’s obviously a strong race. I’d love it if the ground was more testing to take others out of their comfort zone as I know our fella would love it that way, but that’s the way it is.” Mullins appears to hold the ace hand in the Irish Arkle, with Blue Lord (Paul Townend), Haut En Couleurs (Bryan Cooper) and Saint Sam (Rachael Blackmore) part of a six-strong field. Patrick Mullins said: “It was a tough decision for Paul, but I know he thinks a lot of Blue Lord. He rode him ahead of Echoes In Rain over hurdles last year which raised a few eyebrows at the time. “He’s a horse that has improved for jumping fences and he settles much better over them. His last run was hugely impressive. “The other two are both only five. Haut En Couleurs is relatively unexposed because he only made his debut for us in the Triumph Hurdle when he ran huge. He was too keen afterwards at Punchestown. He was a win at the track which should help. “Saint Sam you might not have thought of as a chaser as he’s quite small but when we schooled all the novices early in the season he was one that really caught the eye the first day, he loves it so he looks like one who will make a much better chaser than hurdler.” Taking on the Closutton trio are O’Brien’s pair of Busselton and Embittered and Gordon Elliott’s Riviere D’etel, who chased home the currently sidelined Mullins star Ferny Hollow here in December. Elliott and Mullins also hold strong hands in the Nathaniel Lacy And Partners Solicitors “50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff” Novice Hurdle. Elliott’s Hollow Games is the likely favourite after finishing third behind stable companion Ginto in a Grade One at Naas last month, with Minella Crooner an interesting second string. “I thought Hollow Games was a bit unlucky in Naas — he wouldn’t have won, but I thought he should have been a good second. He just didn’t get the run of the race,” Elliott said. “Minella Crooner is a horse that doesn’t show anything at home, but does his best work on the track.” Mullins runs the fifth from the same Naas race in Whatdeawant, as well as Bronn and Minella Cocooner. Henry de Bromhead’s Naas runner-up Grand Jury and the Joseph O’Brien-trained Limerick Grade Two victor Eric Bloodaxe also merit consideration in a competitive affair.
