Ante-Post Leopardstown Focus

The Dublin Racing festival takes centre stage this weekend and we have a big ante-post selection ahead of Saturday's racing that we truly think will be nowhere near the same price come race-day.

The seven year old Bapaume heads into the Grade One ERSG Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Saturday and in this race full of talented horses he definitely can hold his own.

Willie Mullins could field up to five horses in this contest but we believe that when it comes to the final declaration stage there will not be as many runners from the trainer than you will think.

Bapaume is very likely to end up in this contest and after being a very smart stayer over hurdles for the majority of his career his step up to the bigger obstacles this season has took the eye.

His debut over fences at Fairyhouse can be excused as it was his first run of the season and like many of Mullins' animals they always need the first run.

However, he came on for that massively when landing a 17 runner Beginners Chase at Naas that has since seen the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh that day go on to win.

Another bonus to the form line is that second behind Bapaume that day Spyglass Hill looked sure to take Carefully Selected very close to the line on Sunday before falling at the last.

The form stacks up for Bapaume on Saturday and if being able to come on again and handle the race of this tougher Grade One field then he should go well at an over-priced 8/1.