Dublin Racing Festival eye-catchers plus 20-1 Cheltenham Festival tip

Race: Second in Ladbrokes Novices’ Chase (Sunday).

Ultimately, was no match for Ballyburn in the Grade One Ladbrokes Novices Chase on Sunday.

However, despite a five-length margin between the pair at the line, there was enough encouragement in the performance of Croke Park to suggest he could at least be capable of getting closer to Ballyburn in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Festival in March. 

Gordon Elliott's progressive seven-year-old, who is already a Grade One-winning novice chaser, will relish the step back up in trip at Cheltenham and he’s by no means finished progressing over fences yet. He’s a double-figure price for the Brown Advisory, and I believe his odds underestimate his chance given how well suited he is to the demands of that contest.

Race: Second in Ryanair Handicap Chase (Saturday).

A bit like Croke Park, My Mate Mozzie was well beaten at the line but, again, there was a lot to be encouraged about with the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in mind. 

My Mate Mozzie got tired late on but he’d come from a long way back and the way he cruised through that contest suggests he’s going to be very well suited to the hurly-burly of the Grand Annual, where he’s almost certain to get a good pace to aim at. 

The key to his Cheltenham Festival chance will be ground conditions because he needs decent ground to show his best form.  

Race: Second in the Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle (Saturday).

Whilst many were impressed by the way Hello Neighbour won this Grade One Juvenile Hurdle, he only scored by just three-quarters of a length despite moving through the race like he would bolt up. 

He is surely no good thing to beat runner-up Galileo Dame if the pair both line up in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, and the 20-1 about Galileo Dame for that Cheltenham Festival contest is very appealing.

A useful middle-distance filly on the level, where she was rated 96, Galileo Dame left her hurdles debut form miles behind at Leopardstown. She finished strongly from off the pace, despite not having the cleanest of runs through. 

She won’t need to come forward much more to have a great chance in the JCB Triumph Hurdle where you would think the combination of a strong pace and stiffer track would play to her strengths. 

Gavin's Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post Tip: GALILEO DAME each-way at a general 20-1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle.