Cheltenham Festival winner backed to score for JP McManus at Leopardstown

Emmet Mullins came close to landing a gamble on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival and the trainer has another well-backed runner on the second day at Leopardstown in the shape of Cheltenham Festival winner The Shunter.

Snapped up by powerful owner JP McManus after winning last season's Paddy Power Plate, The Shunter has been cut to 8-1 (from 10) for his first start since finishing fourth in the Galway Plate in July in the 2m5½f handicap chase (2.25).

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At Leopardstown on Saturday, the Mullins-trained Rightplacerightime was backed into 7-2 (from 7) before finishing second in the 3m handicap hurdle behind Good Time Jonny.

The card at Leopardstown is dominated by short-priced favourites and the strongest of those in the morning markets is Sir Gerhard (3.35). The Willie Mullins-trained Champion Bumper winner was cut to 4-5 (from 5-6) but with stablemate El Fabiolo taken out after being injured in transit, he is now trading at 4-6.

Drinmore Chase winner Beacon Edge has been supported at each-way prices – 11-1 (from 14) – against general 1-2 shot Galopin Des Champs in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase (1.20).

Market movers

Leopardstown
1.20 Beacon Edge 11-1 (from 14)
1.50 Dunvegan 12-1 (from 14)
2.25 The Shunter 8-1 (from 10)
3.35 Sir Gerhard 4-5 (from 5-6)

Musselburgh
1.32 Inca Prince 7-4 (from 11-4)
2.05 Corigeen Rock 17-2 (from 12)
2.40 Wakool 9-4 (from 11-4)
3.15 Sarasota Star 11-5 (from 9-4)

Going change at Leopardstown

The ground at Leopardstown has been changed to yielding, yielding to soft in places (from yielding) for day two of the Dublin Racing Festival.

The change was made on Sunday morning following 12mm of rain since 1pm on Saturday, but the rest of the day is set to be dry and breezy.

There are four Grade 1s at Leopardstown headed by the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (3.00) where unbeaten mare Honeysuckle bids for a 14th straight victory.

Clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer said: "We've had a total of 12mm since 1pm yesterday and through the night and the going now is mainly yielding with a little bit of yielding to soft in places on both tracks.

"There's a good strip of fresh ground on the inside of the hurdle track and no alterations to the chase track. The forecast for today is bright, breezy with the occasional sunny spell."

The ground at Musselburgh, where four races will be shown on ITV4 alongside five at Leopardstown, has been changed to good to soft, good in places (from good, good to soft in places).

Key non-runners

Leopardstown
3.35 2 El Fabiolo (injured in transit)
4.10 1 Arcadian Sunrise (going); 18 Gua Du Large (coughing); 3 Eskylane (going)

Musselburgh
2.05 6 Socialist Agenda (going)
2.40 4 Saint Sonnet (going); 11 Taxmeifyoucan (self-certificate)
3.15 6 Glajou (going)

Read a selection of Sunday previews . . .

3.00 Leopardstown: 'It's exciting and nerve-racking' – history awaits Honeysuckle in Irish Champion Hurdle

1.20 Leopardstown: just how good is Galopin Des Champs? Potential superstar set for tough test

1.50 Leopardstown: Paul Townend puts faith in 'electric' Chacun Pour Soi to shine in Dublin Chase

Big-race analysis: why the dominant Chacun Pour Soi will be hard to beat on home soil (Members' Club)

2.40 Musselburgh: 'He has a live chance' – which trainer is looking forward to the better ground?

3.35 Leopardstown: Sir Gerhard in pole position Mullins' strong Supreme hand

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