One trainer, one jockey, one horse and one race to watch on Saturday

Trainer

The Dublin Racing Festival gets under way at Leopardstown on Saturday and Willie Mullins wields another formidable hand this year. The champion trainer landed five of Saturday's seven contests in 2021 and is set to make his mark once more with 20 entries across the card.

Highlights include exciting prospect Vauban, who was a half-length behind subsequent Grade 1 winner Pied Piper in December and could go one better in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle (1.35), in which he is joined by unbeaten stablemates Icare Allen and Vadaly.

Blue Lord made a flawless switch to chasing this season and could follow up the success of Energumene last year for Mullins in the Irish Arkle (2.10) before Kemboy bids for back-to-back success in the Irish Gold Cup (3.15).

Saturday could end on a winning note for the trainer with another potential star in Facile Vega, son of top-class mare Quevega, in the Grade 2 Goffs Future Stars bumper (4.25).

Patrick Mullins: Facile Vega will need to be every bit as good as we hope he is

Jockey

While the eyes of racing enthusiasts will be drawn to Ireland, at Sandown Charlie Deutsch could have one of the most important days of his career as he seeks a breakthrough Grade 1 success for boss Venetia Williams.

The feature on Sandown's card is the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (2.20) and Deutsch could be set for a first top-level victory on L'Homme Presse, who is a short order for the 2m4f test.

Unbeaten in three starts this season, L'Homme Presse faces just four rivals under the 25-year-old jockey, who also holds live chances with three other rides on the day.

L'Homme Presse: could land a first Grade 1 win for Charlie Deutsch at SandownCredit: Edward Whitaker

Deutsch could get things off to a winning start with Frero Banbou, who will be looking to follow up success at Lingfield two weeks ago in the 1m7½f handicap chase (1.15).

Green Book, who was last seen unseating Ned Fox when joint-favourite in the Lanzarote, could hand Deutsch another Graded success in the 2m7½f handicap hurdle (2.55), while Fairnet could cap a memorable day for the jockey in the 3m handicap chase (3.30).

Horse

The market for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham could be set for another shake-up on when the unbeaten hurdler Fil Dor bids to extend his winning streak to four in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle (1.35).

The four-year-old is 7-2 for the Cheltenham contest behind stablemate Pied Piper, who secured favouritism following success at Cheltenham Trials day a week ago.

A win in Saturday's 2m test could change things in the market and secure a first Grade 1 victory for the promising Gordon Elliott-trained grey, a ready Grade 2 winner over Christmas.

Race

This year's promises to be a fascinating renewal of the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3.15) as Kemboy seeks a second win in the Grade 1 contest that headlines Leopardstown's Saturday card.

While last year's running was an all-Irish affair, this time British raider Frodon, who defied Gold Cup winner Minella Indo in an exhilarating Champion Chase at Down Royal in October, adds spice.

Frodon and Bryony Frost back for more Irish success at the Dublin Racing FestivalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The Paul Nicholls-trained runner is set to miss Cheltenham this year in favour of this contest. Minella Indo and Delta Work are back to take him on, while the enigmatic Asterion Forlonge could be dangerous granted a clean round of jumping.

With Janidil, Conflated and Cilaos Emery completing the field, the Irish Gold Cup is set to be a thrilling showdown that will be well worth tuning in for.

Read more:

'We're running from Willie Mullins' - bookmakers share their weekend fears

Dublin Racing Festival tips: why this horse can win at Leopardstown this weekend

Sandown 'relatively pleased' with field sizes after driest January for 25 years

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