Let's Talk Racing: Romeo Coolio appeals but Ballyburn doubts remain

ANDREW: Your right to say that it looks like a very open renewal of the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, and, likewise, I feel the need to take on Salvator Mundi. He didn't do everything right last time out and, although he clearly has an engine, I'm not so sure you'd want to be taking those sorts of risks. 

Kopek Des Bordes or Kaid D'Authie could well be ones to come out of the pack at the Dublin Racing Festival this weekend. However, the former jumped poorly on hurdling debut, and the latter's form did not get any sort of boost at Fairyhouse last Saturday. I still believe Romeo Coolio is the horse to beat in this division. He might be exposed if a top-notch horse was to appear, but I'm not so sure there is one in this field. 

JOSH: I agree with Andrew — right now, I'd back Romeo Coolio. This might come as a surprise to those who heard me rave about him last season before he'd even run in a bumper, but I don't  think he's a top-tier horse. A real top-tier horse doesn’t get beaten in the Royal Bond, and I have serious doubts about last season's Champion Bumper form. That being said, I don't think you need to be a world beater to win this year's Supreme.

The horse who could just be that special one we're waiting for is Kopek Des Bordes. He’ll need to overcome his shocking jumping if he's to win this weekend, but if he does, I think he will. The engine is definitely there. How often do you see a horse miss almost every hurdle and still win a Leopardstown maiden? Plus, the runner-up has since come out and beaten William Munny.

Kopek is a staying type with speed — a classic Mullins horse suited to the Supreme. However, I think the Turners is his race at this stage, though I just hope they reconsider that plan.

ANDREW: It was hard not to be very impressed with Bioluminescence at Naas on Sunday, when running out an admirable second to Dancing City, under very unfavourable terms. The mare is improving nicely and could certainly be one for the Paddy Power Mares Chase, which does seem to be lacking some depth at the moment. 

My only caveat with her would be her need for proper winter soft ground, which does seem to be imperative for her to run to her best. If the ground was as it was this time last season when running the Mares Chase, I think she is the most likely winner. However, I wouldn't be parting with my hard-earned cash just at the moment. 

JOSH: I absolutely love this mare. She’s the real deal — a proper, old-fashioned chaser who could definitely make her mark in both the Irish and potentially the English Grand Nationals in the future. She’s exceptionally talented, and her run behind Dancing City was top-class. That said, I agree with Andrew, she will need it soft to show her best.

:Was Constitution Hill that impressive? Will it spur (connections of) Brighterdaysahead to take him on. Lossiemouth vs State Man will provide clues!

ANDREW: I suppose everyone will have a different take on this, but I thought that Constitution Hill was perfectly satisfactory over the weekend. We didn't learn anything, but he could not have done it any easier than he did. He travelled with his usual amount of zest, and despite a bit of a jockey error at the last, he was clever enough to get from A to B. 

It was also important for us racing fans to see him be able to run twice in the space of the month and show no ill-effect for either run (touch wood), and let's hope that will stay the case for the lead up to Cheltenham. The team behind Brighterdaysahead might be more interested in this weekend's clash, as I do feel the destination of Lossiemouth is far more imperative for where this mare turns up. So we shall have to wait and see what comes to pass at Leopardstown. 

JOSH: I’ve got a nagging feeling we won’t see Brighterdaysahead lining up in the Unibet Champion Hurdle, with connections likely opting for the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle instead. They’re planning to go chasing with her next season and may even see her as a Gold Cup contender down the line, so I think they’ll take a more cautious approach.

I mention this because, unlike State Man and Lossiemouth, Constitution Hill has yet to face Brighterdaysahead. That keeps a slim possibility alive that she could beat him. I loved watching him at the weekend — he was cruising along in second gear and still looked effortless.

He’s a joy to watch and, come March, he’ll be beating State Man and Lossiemouth again.

ANDREW: Ballyburn is a horse that has divided opinion this season, with his novice chase campaign certainly not going as smoothly or as successfully as connections might have hoped. He was comprehensively put in his place by Sir Gino last time out, and although there are some excuses for that, it did slightly crush the air of invincibility around this horse. 

I would not be in any mad rush to pile into him this weekend either, where he will line up in the 2m5f Grade One Novice Chase. This race is likely to suit his credentials a lot better, but there is still a lot one has to take on trust. Perhaps he might be able to overcome that and get his season back on track. It would be remiss and silly to write this horse off, but one should take precaution at the moment before seeing whether he can return to some of the peaks he encountered last season before accepting full faith again. 

JOSH: A horse I once had a lot of love for, but I’m not so sure about anymore. Could he win this weekend? Of course. That said, I'm taking him on with Champ Kiely and I certainly wouldn't get behind him at those short prices for the Brown Advisory in March. With the 2m 4f novice chase now axed from the Festival, the Brown Advisory is shaping up to be incredibly competitive, with a deeper, stronger field.

Dancing City, The Jukebox Man, Impaire Et Passe, Jango Baie, Champ Kiely, Better Days Ahead, Croke Park, and Quai De Bourbon are all likely to line up, with a few more lurking further down the betting. One thing’s for certain . . . you are going to need to stay. That’ll suit horses like Dancing City and Better Days Ahead, but based on everything we’ve seen so far, it’s hard to see Ballyburn staying with that level of competition.

A NOLAN/CONNELL/MCKIERNAN/MCCONNELL HORSE TO BACK: Dublin Racing Festival weekend is always an exciting time and although it becomes a lot harder for some of the smaller stables to find winners, we have a few horses that should be well capable of holding their own.

The nominated horse is Park Of Kings, who will look to go four spots better than last year when tackling the three-mile handicap hurdle on Saturday. He comes off the back of two career best runs and certainly looks ready for this step back up in distance after the last time. He is showing a great consistency and, while these races are often tight and tricky to decipher, the 14-1 on offer surely represents good value. 

A DEBUTANT TO WATCH: Ned Hill, for the Fergal O'Brien team, in the bumper at Wetherby on Saturday.