BOOKIES are already counting the cost of Willie Mullins ‘dominating’ at this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival – with a huge five-timer on the cards.
The all-conquering handler is readying some of his biggest stars for the two-day feature at Leopardstown, which Nicky Henderson jokingly calls ‘the Willie Mullins Festival’.
The DRF throws up huge clues for March’s Cheltenham Festival, with Galopin Des Champs one of those to double up last year.
And it is the superstar stayer who headlines Mullins’ team of awesome talent for the weekend.
He is one of five odds-on shots the bookies are desperate to get turned over, with the acca on them all paying just under 10-1.
Galopin Des Champs is 4-6 to win a third Irish Gold Cup – before he aims to make it a hat-trick in the Cheltenham Festival feature too.
While he is the big act, it’s JP McManus’ Majborough who looks to kick off the five-timer in the Irish Arkle.
He is 4-7 to win the key 2m chase for novices – ahead of what should be a titanic clash with Sir Gino at Cheltenham.
Elsewhere, Ballyburn’s hopes of landing the Brown Advisory at the Festival were boosted with the news that Harry Redknapp’s Grade 1-winning star The Jukebox Man is out.
Sun Racing columnist Ben Pauling confirmed the big second-fav will sadly miss the rest of the season through injury.
First for Ballyburn, though, is the Ladbrokes Novice Chase, for which the firm make him 4-7 fav.
Mullins will be relying on Lossiemouth and Gaelic Warrior to bring home the bacon elsewhere.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”‘She looks top drawer’ purrs Willie Mullins after Rich Ricci’s ‘special’ new horse bolts up on debut” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6366575067112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “Willie Mullins completely dominates the betting for this year’s Dublin Racing Festival.
“And the likes of Galopin Des Champs and Gaelic Warrior are only expected to shorten further in the betting between now and the weekend.”
Willie Mullins’ odds-on favourites at Dublin Racing Festival
Majborough to win the Irish Arkle Chase – 4-7
Galopin Des Champs to win the Irish Gold Cup – 4-6
Ballyburn to win the Ladbrokes Novice Chase – 4-7
Gaelic Warrior to win the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase – 4-6
Lossiemouth to win the Irish Champion Hurdle – 4-7