THERE are plenty of horses I want to see win at the Dublin Racing Festival, although none for hard-headed betting reasons. Chacun Pour Soi, Honeysuckle and Minella Indo are also responsible for my slim hopes of getting some return on a fairly hefty Ten To Follow outlay, but while I shall cheer the trio until I’m hoarse, they won’t carry any of my cash at the likely odds.

I’m more inclined to throw a few each-way darts about, looking for horses who will be staying on well in conditions which put stamina at a premium, and such horses are often underbet on account of defeats in more tactical affairs.

One such in the opening contest is Vanillier who was beaten by Farouk D’Alene in a Grade 2 at Limerick at the end of December. He never really looked like overhauling the smart winner that day, but he put in excellent work from the final flight, and a similar performance can see him in the frame at least despite the marginal drop in trip here.

In the Grade 1 Irish Champion Hurdle, it should be remembered that Petit Mouchoir headed Honeysuckle again on the run-in last year, and he looks as good as ever, with a fine third to Sharjah in the Matheson last time for new owners Noel and Valerie Moran, and he looks set to get an uncontested lead if reverting to positive tactics.

I’d expect Honeysuckle to pick him up again this time, but he rates a bet in the “without” market with track position sure to give him an advantage on the day. There’s also the possibility of including him in an exacta with the favourite, which ought to pay pretty well.

Sunday selections

On to Sunday, and Master McShee looks a solid each-way selection in the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novices’ Hurdle. Paddy Corkery’s charge would also represent a great story if winning against the big guns here, with the cheap purchase a real family horse, being owned by trainer’s wife Deirdre and led up by son John.

It’s not just sentimentality which makes him appeal, however, as his only defeat over hurdles was a fairly narrow one at the hands of Carefully Selected, and it’s folly to assume he should progress less than the favourite given that was his debut over hurdles and just his second lifetime outing. He absolutely routed a competitive handicap field last time, and an official rating of 143 does not flatter him in any way.

Stamina

Julies Stowaway is bred for stamina with his dam a daughter of Old Vic who was wide-margin point winner, and while the form he’s shown for Mags Mullins in maiden hurdles over shorter gives him something to find in the William Fry Handicap Hurdle, the step-up to three miles could well be the catalyst for significant improvement from last year’s Champion Bumper seventh. While he’ll need to brush up his jumping technique, he looks the sort of unexposed novice to do well in handicaps.

Recommended

Saturday Selections

1.05 Vanillier

3.15 Petit Mouchoir (w/o Honeysuckle)

Sunday Selections

2.10 Master McShee

2.40 Julies Stowaway