What impact will the DRF have on Cheltenham's ante-post markets?

Galopin goes for Gold Cup glory

Two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs will be the star turn on day one at Leopardstown as he bids for a third straight Irish Gold Cup victory.

Willie Mullins' star is yet to be defeated over fences at the Foxrock venue and stormed to glory in the Savills Chase at Christmas, avenging his John Durkan defeat behind stablemate Fact To File at Punchestown previously.

They now clash for a third time this season. Can Mark Walsh and Fact To File turn things around or will Galopin Des Champs reign supreme once more at the Dublin Racing Festival and tee himself up for a tilt at becoming the first horse since Best Mate to win three successive Cheltenham Gold Cups?

Ricci hoping Sainte Lucie can stand out

The Rich Ricci silks have encountered plenty of Cheltenham success and the powerful owner will be hoping that Sainte Lucie can mark herself down as a lively Triumph Hurdle contender by winning the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on Saturday afternoon.

The filly is the leading contender in a four-strong Mullins assault as he bids to win this race for a fourth successive year.

She debuted for the champion trainer at Punchestown on New Year's Eve, running out an easy winner over the extended two-miles on soft ground with Paul Townend on board.

He has stuck with her ahead of stablemates Lady Vega Allen, Sony Bill and Willy De Houelle and a convincing win here could see her odds for the Triumph Hurdle tumbling.

Henderson runner out to enhance credentials

Leopardstown doesn't have a complete monopoly on potential Festival clues. There's Grade 1 fare from Sandown on Saturday via the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase, where Jango Baie is sure to be a warm order for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville.

He had some good form as a novice over hurdles last season and already looked destined for better things as a chaser following his win at

Cheltenham in December

He cleared away from Springwell Bay that afternoon over 2m4½f, with the Jonjo O'Neill runner easily winning a handicap back at Cheltenham on New Year's Day off a mark of 145.

Jango Baie looks to have clear top-level potential for the Seven Barrows team and a win at Sandown could send him on his way back to Cheltenham in March.

Looking ahead to Sunday, the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase market will likely get a further shake-up after Ballyburn, Impaire Et Passe, Champ Kiely, Better Days Ahead and Croke Park do battle in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

O'Brien's Flyer set for Scottish Supreme test

Elsewhere on Sunday, Musselburgh hosts day two of their Cheltenham Trials meeting, with the Scottish Supreme Novices' Hurdle one of the key contests on the card.

Fergal O'Brien saddles Tripoli Flyer, a Getaway gelding who was Grade 2 placed in an Aintree bumper last spring and got on the scoresheet in wide-margin fashion at Market Rasen in November on his second start over hurdles.

His earlier second at Chepstow is solid form too and he merits this rise in class under Johnny Burke.

He meets better opposition in Cloonainra and Clap Of Thunder now, but he might have the ability to see them off and his three-figure odds for the Cheltenham curtain-raiser could soon disappear if he does.