Asterion Forlonge rockets to top of Irish Gold Cup market as Frodon drifts

Asterion Forlonge may not be the most reliable, but he has talent - something it seems punters are latching on to on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup () at Leopardstown.

Trained by Willie Mullins, the grey unseated when going well in the John Durkan and then fell at the last in the King George VI Chase over Christmas.

Asterion Forlonge: is he a maverick or simply misunderstood?

He does, however, possess a big engine and was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles at this fixture two years ago.

As big as 9-2 on Friday, he has been clipped to a general 3-1 favourite for Saturday's race alongside stablemate and last year's winner Kemboy, who has eased to 7-2 in places. Frodon, Paul Nicholls' raider from Britain, is out to 11-2 having been 3-1 the previous evening.

Paddy Power trimmed Asterion Forlonge to 100-30 (from 7-2) and also reported support for Janidil, another Mullins inmate who is 6-1 (from 7).

ITV Racing tips: one key runner from each of the 11 races on ITV on Saturday

On behalf of the firm, Paul Binfield said: "Despite his heavy fall in the King George, Asterion Forlonge has joined his stable companion Kemboy at the front of the market with punters seemingly happy to give him another chance over three miles and there's also been a few quid knocking around for Janidil."

In an update on his website on Saturday morning, Mullins said: "Asterion Forlonge is a course winner here. He ran a huge race and was still in contention when falling at the last in the King George at Kempton. A repeat, albeit with better jumping, would give him a big chance here."

'Weather not pleasant'

The ground for a belting day at Leopardstown on Saturday is yielding, but the weather may not live up to the red-hot action on the track.

Beginning at 1.05, the seven-race card features four Grade 1s, so those on track are in for a treat, although they might need an umbrella and a few extra layers.

Saturday cards

Speaking on Saturday morning, Leopardstown clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer said: "We had a dry day yesterday and it was dry overnight.

"The going is yielding on both tracks [chase and hurdle] and the forecast is not particularly pleasant today. It looks like there is some rain forecast midday, maybe starting at 1pm. It's basically hanging about all day, until the early hours of Sunday morning and possibly 10mm.

"It's going to be a wet day with high winds gusting up to 50kph at one stage. Tomorrow looks dry for racing with winds not quite as strong."

The Irish Gold Cup and Racing TV 12 Euros Per Month This Weekend Only Spring Juvenile Hurdle () are two of the 11 races live on Saturday on ITV4, which also broadcasts classy content from Wetherby, Musselburgh and Sandown, where the Grade 1 Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase () takes centre stage.

Going

Sandown good to soft, good in places (chase), good to soft (hurdles)
Wetherby good
Musselburgh good, good to soft in places
Lingfield standard
Kempton standard to slow
Leopardstown yielding

Paddy Power market movers

Sandown
1.15 Frero Banbou 11-4 (from 3)
2.20 Mister Coffey 17-2 (from 9)
2.55 Dans Le Vent 8-1 (from 17-2)
3.30 Kapcorse 17-2 (from 9)

Musselburgh
2.05 Valadom 11-2 (from 13-2)
2.40 Glory And Honour 4-1 (from 11-2)
3.45 Captain Cattistock 5-1 (from 11-2)

Wetherby
2.30 Saint Palais 13-8 (from 11-5)

Leopardstown
1.35 Vadaly 22-1 (from 28)
3.15 Asterion Forlonge 100-30 (from 7-2), Janidil 6-1 (from 7), Conflated 33-1 (from 50)

Key non-runners

Musselburgh
3.45 7 Coup De Pinceau

Leopardstown
1.05 8 Whatdeawant

Read all of Saturday's previews:

3.15 Leopardstown: Irish Gold Cup: key quotes and analysis as Frodon, Kemboy and Minella Indo clash

1.05 Leopardstown: Hollow Games has most to fear from fast-improving stablemate Minella Crooner

1.35 Leopardstown: Fil Dor bids to cement Triumph hopes but Vauban 'the one to beat', says Elliott

2.10 Leopardstown: Blue Lord bids to fill void left by Ferny Hollow for Mullins in Irish Arkle

2.20 Sandown: L'Homme Presse and Pic D'Orhy set for Sandown showdown in Scilly Isles

2.30 Wetherby: Lucinda Russell looks for 'confidence booster' to put Ahoy Senor back on track

3.30 Sandown: Could course specialists prove the key to a race with a rich history

3.45 Musselburgh: Questions over ground and jumping - who can come up with the winning answer?

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