Dancing City springs surprise in DRF opener

The Dublin Racing Festival began as many expected with a Willie Mullins-trained winner, but not with the one most predicted, as complete outsider Dancing City beat favourite Predators Gold in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle.

With Paul Townend plumping for Predators Gold from the four Mullins runners, punters took that as a clear hint he was seen as the number one contender, despite stepping up six furlongs in trip from his Christmas outing.

Townend settled the market leader at the rear, as Danny Mullins on Dancing City (16-1) set out to make the running at a sedate tempo, but Rachael Blackmore was having none of it and after half a mile Jetara was allowed to stride on.

Blackmore had a scary moment approaching the second last when she lost her left stirrup but was soon back on an even keel, although the Mullins pair loomed up on the turn for home.

Predators Gold had every chance on the outside but Dancing City kept on finding for pressure and went on to win by a length and a quarter. To Jetara’s credit, she stuck on gamely for third.

“It was great, I thought the extra trip would suit him,” said Mullins.

“Danny was good on him again, he always just pops up when you least think it!

“I thought Predators Gold might win the race, but Paul said he was doing a little too much throughout.

“That ground is a lot softer than we thought it would be. I think that suited Dancing City more.”

He went on: “The point-to-point experience he had let him settle more, he spat out the bit early on whereas Paul’s fella was too keen, we ran him over two miles at Christmas and that made him a little keen for this, going up in trip.

“I think he (the winner) looks ready made for the Albert Bartlett, he has the experience, he goes the trip and he’ll handle the ground. That’s where we hope he’ll go.

“It was a good performance, he’s improving and on the up. Predators Gold looks more like a Ballymore horse.

“I was disappointed with Loughglynn and I Will Be Baie just couldn’t handle the ground. Loughglynn didn’t jump early on and got worse as the race went on, that was a big disappointment.

“I’m here to find out as well, we think we know but If we did know we’d probably all be driving bigger cars!”

The winner was cut to 12-1 from 50s for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham by Betfair.