Footpad and Kemboy miss Dublin Racing Festival but plenty of stars still on show

Leading contenders Footpad, Kemboy and Battleoverdoyen do not feature among the declarations for the Dublin Racing Festival, which were revealed on Friday morning. However, the two-day meeting, which includes eight Grade 1s and in excess of €1.8 million in prize-money, will still be a star-studded affair.

Footpad was expected to take on Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Min (3.10) in a mouthwatering Dublin Chase clash on Saturday. However, last season's Racing Post Arkle winner will not compete, leaving Min to take on five rivals in the Grade 1 event, including Saint Calvados, Special Tiara and Simply Ned.

Battleoverdoyen was a surprise absentee from the opening race of the meeting, the Grade 1 novice hurdle over 2m6f (12.50). The unbeaten hurdler was set to be a short-priced favourite.

Kemboy was a general 11-2 chance for the Irish Gold Cup following his dominant success in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas but he will miss Sunday's feature contest. Ten have been declared, including Al Boum Photo, Balko Des Flos, Bellshill and Road To Respect.

On Saturday Apple's Jade will head six runners in the Irish Champion Hurdle (1.25), while Le Richebourg is the star name among eight in the Irish Arkle (3.45).

On Sunday La Bague Au Roi and Delta Work will clash in the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase.

Opposition to Apple's Jade

Melon and Supasundae have stood their ground against Apple's Jade, who has drifted slightly for the Irish Champion Hurdle. Min has unsurprisingly shortened significantly for the Dublin Chase in light of Footpad's defection.

Betway’s Alan Alger said: "Footpad’s withdrawal from the Dublin Chase has strengthened Min’s position at the head of the market and he’s now the clear favourite at 4-6.

"Meanwhile, all three of the main players have stood their ground in the Irish Champion Hurdle with Apple’s Jade the favourite. She’s on the drift though at 5-4, with punters keen to take her on back down in trip.

"We’ll be hoping she gets beat too, with the treble of Min, Apple’s Jade and Envoi Allen (2.35) proving popular and if all three were to go in it would be very costly indeed."

Vinndication faces four in Scilly Isles

Sandown's clerk of the course Andrew Cooper is confident Saturday's card will go ahead, and the feature race, the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase, has attracted five runners.

Kim Bailey's highly exciting Vinndication puts his unbeaten record on the line against Defi Du Seuil, Lostintranslation, Mulcahys Hill and Dell Oro.

Also on the card, dual Champion Hurdle hero Buveur D'Air will face four in the Contenders Hurdle. Vision Des Flos, Roksana, Rayvin Black and De Dollar Man take on Nicky Henderson's star.

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