Dublin Racing Festival: Gentleman De Mee bounces back to form on better ground

Gentleman De Mee reversed the form with Blue Lord to land the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at Leopardstown.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old was a 15-2 shot in the Grade One for Willie Mullins and Danny Mullins, who was deputising for the injured Mark Walsh after he was stood down following a fall in the opening race.

Blue Lord (1-4F) was the long odds-on favourite after trouncing stablemate Gentleman De Mee by 41 lengths when the pair last met in the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase after Christmas – but this time it was the latter who triumphed by an easy seven lengths.

Not for the first time this weekend, a Willie Mullins hotpot is turned over by a stablemate, with Gentleman De Mee (15-2) scoring in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at the expense of Blue Lord. #DublinRacingFestival pic.twitter.com/pwQtRufAIn

Mullins said: "I was disappointed with Blue Lord. It’s fantastic for Gentleman De Mee and great for Danny. I thought Danny was very brave on him and he was asking him everywhere the whole way down the back.

"The horse was loving it and responding to him. I thought it was a terrific performance. I was very happy with his last bit of work the other morning, I thought it was as good a gallop as I’ve ever seen him do.

Willie Mullins on why Gentleman De Mee returned to form in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase. Plus, glowing praise for nephew and winning pilot Danny. pic.twitter.com/dyUSb9jhKs

"Things didn’t go right for him at Christmas, possibly a little bit of drier ground here played to his strengths rather than Blue Lord’s.

"Blue Lord had a very hard race at Christmas and Paul (Townend) thought that might have had an effect, but I think maybe it was just the change of ground.

"He was a very good novice but was just disappointing at Christmas.