Three beaten horses from the Dublin Racing Festival who it can pay to follow next time

Firefox

3rd, Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (2m1f, February 1)

Majborough ran out an impressive winner of the Irish Arkle on Saturday afternoon and was cut to 5-2 second favourite for a clash with Sir Gino in the Arkle at Cheltenham.

It was a race where it paid to race handily, with Majborough and runner-up Touch Me Not the front two throughout, and the performance of the third Firefox is worth upgrading.

Firefox: will appreciate going up in trip following his Irish Arkle thirdCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Gordon Elliott's seven-year-old was positioned in midfield early and kept on to finish three and three-quarter lengths behind Touch Me Not, having been under pressure turning for home, and on that evidence he will benefit from stepping back up in trip.

Firefox finished a half-length third in the Drinmore Novice Chase over 2m4f at Fairyhouse in December, and his beginners' chase win at Down Royal was gained over that same intermediate trip. The 2m4f Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree's Grand National meeting looks a potential target.

Sequestered

2nd, 2m5½f handicap chase (February 2)

Gavin Cromwell's Backtonormal justified strong support with a comfortable success in Sunday's Grade 3 handicap chase.

An opening handicap mark of 130 underestimated Backtonormal and runner-up Sequestered can gain compensation next time granted he doesn't face another well-handicapped rival.

Sequestered (11): progressive chaser finished second at Leopardstown on Sunday

Sequestered (second): progressive chaser was a runner-up at Leopardstown on SundayCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Paul Gilligan's seven-year-old bolted up in a 3m½f handicap chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and looked set to defy a 12lb rise when sauntering into the lead turning for home at the weekend.

Sequestered had to settle for second when Backtonormal hit top gear and has been nudged up another 5lb for that showing, but he will appreciate stepping back up in trip and can land a big pot before the season is out.

Storm Heart

2nd, 2m handicap hurdle (February 2)

McLaurey justified favouritism for Emmet Mullins in the Listed handicap hurdle, but Storm Heart was a big eyecatcher in second.

The Gigginstown-owned five-year-old finished a 15-length fifth in last season's Triumph Hurdle after being sent off the 7-2 favourite for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

He was then fourth in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown festival and returned to action on Sunday in a race his trainer and jockey won with Gaelic Warrior in 2023.

Storm Heart (maroon and white silks): finished fifth in a red-hot running of the Triumph Hurdle last yearCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Storm Heart raced wide and had only a handful of horses behind turning for home but came with a strong run in the home straight and may have troubled the winner but for a mistake at the final flight.

He is entitled to come on for that outing and if the ground is testing he would have to be considered a big player in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, for which he is a best-priced 10-1.

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