Big three clash in Gold Cup highlight Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo, King George hero Frodon and last year's winner Kemboy head a field of eight runners for the €250,000 Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, the highlight on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday. Kemboy's trainer Willie Mullins has also declared Asterion Forlonge, Cilaos Emery and Janidil as he bids to win the race for a twelfth time while Gordon Elliott has two contenders - 2020 Irish Gold Cup winner Delta Work and Conflated. The sponsors odds: 5/2 Frodon, 11/4 Kemboy, 10/3 Minella Indo, 4 Asterion Forlonge, 14 Delta Work, Janidil, 33 Conflated, 66 Cilaos Emery. The first of Saturday’s races is the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors “50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff” Novice Hurdle and the eight declared include Grand Jury, Hollow Games and Whatdeawant. Nine go to post for the Grade 1 Racing TV ‘ €12 Per Month This Weekend Only’ Spring Juvenile Hurdle with Mullins’ Vauban taking on Fil Dor, unbeaten in three jumping starts for the Elliott yard. Mullins has a team of three, all unbeaten over fences, for the Grade 1 Irish Arkle Novice Chase with Blue Lord set to be joined by Haut En Couleurs and Saint Sam, with the Elliott-trained Riviere D’etel heading the opposition. The Paddy Power-backed three-mile handicap hurdle has a field of 24 runners with Leopardstown Christmas Festival winners Priory Park, Good Time Jonny and Panda Boy plus last year's runner-up Unexpected Depth four of note. The concluding Grade 2 Goffs Future Stars INH Flat Race pits Peter Fahey’s The Big Doyen and the Paul Nolan-trained Sandor Clegane against the Mullins pair, Facile Vega and Embassy Gardens. Also among the seven contenders is the Elliott-trained Itswhatunitesus.
