TEMPLEGATE’S tips for the rearranged day one of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown are below.
Willie Mullins has dominated this meeting in recent years and one of his biggest stars returns in the Irish Gold Cup.
But Templegate is backing a different trainer to have a day to remember.
Read on for his picks and back a horse by clicking their odds below.
Templegate’s day one Dublin Racing Festival tips
LEOPARDSTOWN MONDAY
1.15
DOCTOR STEINBERG can kick off the rescheduled day one of DRF in winning style for Willie Mullins.
He is two from two over hurdles, after bolting up in a Galway maiden and then making all in a four-runner Navan novices’ hurdle, with Paul Townend again up.
He’d already won a bumper at Ballinrobe and has form on heavy so should have no worries getting home and his Navan all-the-way win showed grit.
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Main threat is Kazansky, a Gordon Elliott improver who followed a Cork maiden win with a Limerick Grade 2 success on heavy.
Stablemate Santo Sospir is also unbeaten over hurdles, scoring at Punchestown and then powering nine lengths clear at Clonmel but needs more.
Love Me Tender brings Mullins strength in depth after three hurdle wins and a Leopardstown Grade 1 third, while Tackletommywoowoo arrives off a Cork listed novice win and stays 3m.
1.50
MANGE TOUT looks tasty for Gordon Elliott.
She is unbeaten in three hurdles, starting with a Compiegne fillies’ win in May, then a Down Royal success in November, before landing Fairyhouse’s Winter Festival Juvenile Hurdle by three lengths from Narciso Has.
Don’t worry about her wearing a hood, it was on last time.
She gets weight from her main rival with improvement to come.
That main danger is Narciso Has, who won at Auteuil and thumped a Leopardstown Grade 2 field by 11 lengths last time, jumping well and forging clear from two out.
He was caught napping by the tip at Fairyhouse but there won’t be a lot in it.
Immediate Effect looked a smart prospect when winning a Punchestown maiden on debut and is sure to progress.
Bertutea bolted up by nine at Limerick and remains with potential.
Selma De Vary won a 13-runner Auteuil fillies’ juvenile and is interesting on debut for Willie Mullins.
Barbizon and North Shore were behind Narciso Has here last time and need more.
2.25
DIPPEDINMOONLIGHT can light up this Listed handicap for Emmet Mullins.
She shaped like the winner for a long way when second at Fairyhouse 17 days ago, travelling best and finishing clear of the rest.
She’s a Flat winner who stays 1¾m, won a Downpatrick bumper in 2024/25, and she’s already a point winner, so the 3m test on soft to heavy looks right up her street.
Rider Michael Kenneally is great value for his 7lb claim too.
Duke Silver should run well for Joseph O’Brien.
He took an 18-runner handicap here and should be competitive despite an 8lb rise.
Champagne Kid arrives after winning a 16-runner listed handicap here and will stay out of trouble up front.
County Final has been placed in a Limerick Grade 2 and won a Navan maiden by 16 lengths so is no mug either.
Son Of Anarchy is a Punchestown handicap winner and stayed on for a useful third at Navan, while Staffordshire Knot ran Home By The Lee close in the Galmoy Hurdle but needs more.
2.55
ROMEO COOLIO has yet to taste defeat over fences and comes here looking for his third Grade 1 in a row.
He overcame a bad early mistake to get up on the line here at Christmas and he has plenty of stamina so conditions should be fine.
This is his toughest test against Kargese but he can pass it.
It’s early days over fences for Willie Mullins’ hope who was surprisingly beaten on debut at Cork last month before winning easily here last time.
She jumped really well and clearly has a lot more to offer.
Being a mare, she gets 7lb off Romeo which should bring them close together.
Downmexicoway will cop a handy €13,000 for finishing third but needs a big step up from his Gowran handicap win last time to trouble the other two.
3.30
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS did well to finish third in the Savills here at Christmas given how rusty he was after eight months off.
He hit the front but couldn’t sustain his effort without a run under his belt.
We know he loves this trip and track, with soft ground right up his street too.
He will be much more tuned up to win this for the fourth year running.
Affordale Fury has to be a serious contender again after beating a rusty Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase here last time.
Conditions were testing then and he kept pulling out more to land a convincing success.
He saw off I Am Maximus nicely and looks solid each-way again.
Inothewayurthinkin is clearly being targeted at defending his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown and can’t be backed with any confidence after two quiet runs this season.
Fact To File is classy but doesn’t quite get this far and conditions won’t help.
Gaelic Warrior got three miles at Kempton on good ground but is another with stamina doubts in the conditions.
At a huge price, Monty’s Star will love this test as will Grangeclare West and either could make the frame.
It will be interesting to see how Spindleberry does tackling this trip for the first time.
4.05
JACOB’S LADDER can climb to the top for Gordon Elliott.
He’s looked a better chaser than hurdler, winning a Fairyhouse maiden by four lengths in December before finishing a solid second in a Punchestown Grade 3 novice on heavy 20 days ago, coming home strongly.
He usually races prominently and an honest gallop should suit him, so this test looks ideal.
Addragoole is a big danger after winning a 20-runner handicap here last time and this trip is ideal.
Western Diego arrives on a career best after landing the Dan & Joan Moore at Fairyhouse and he handles heavy.
Jasko Des Dames was second at Cheltenham in October and stays further.
Inthepocket is classy on his day but has disappointed in valuable handicaps, while Ballysax Hank did best of the hold-up horses in the Paddy Power here at Christmas and he may prefer this much shorter trip.
4.40
CHARISMATIC KID can come of age on debut for Gordon Elliott.
He won a Navan maiden bumper on heavy 56 days ago for Colm Ryan, overcoming greenness and drawing clear in the final furlong to score easily.
He’s open to plenty of improvement for a top yard.
It’s Only A Game is the obvious threat after a Punchestown bumper win in November, going clear after being short of room.
Rojuco Mac was a Limerick maiden on heavy last time and should enjoy these conditions.
Broadway Ted won an Ayr bumper on heavy in December and also looks capable of better.
Mossy Way has a 27-length Limerick win on heavy but came up short here last time.
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