Top tips for day one of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown

It was a privilege to be back talking racing on On The Wire this weekend. A feature of the two-part ahead Dublin Racing Festival podcast (one for Saturday, one for Sunday) was how much disagreement there was between us. Let’s hope at least one of us gets something right!

We have the remarkable scenario of a 16-runner Grade One on Sunday, but it is possible that Saturday's glittering card is better still.

Sadly, there will be no racegoers at the track, but we can all enjoy the same experience of this top-class fare from Foxrock

It will be tough going after a lot of recent rain at Leopardstown but here are my trio for day one.

There's a slight concern about stamina for the hood-wearing Gaillard Du Mesnil, the favourite.

Gavin Cromwell does not target Grade One races unless he fancies his chance and Vanillier is well worth his spot here.

He was having his first shot at a staying trip when running on strongly into second at Limerick at Christmas, with the smart mare Darrens Hope in third. He makes plenty of each-way appeal.

Cracking fare here, with Honeysuckle surely vulnerable over two miles.

Saldier was beaten a car ride here at Christmas but he ran much better than that suggests and he's a big price in a six-runner race in which there are doubts about them all.

Remember that he was pretty much having his first shot at senior hurdling when beating Petit Mouchoir easily last season and he's still only seven.

With a 19 per cent strike-rate this season, things are going well for Paul O'Flynn.

West Cork Wildway was well-backed when dropping back to two miles at Thurles last time, winning readily, and his stamina is a major plus here.

It's only his third handicap start and he has a touch of class.