Dublin Racing Festival: Your essential guide to the racing action at Leopardstown

The two-day Dublin Racing Festival is one of the true highlights of the National Hunt season.

Staged at Leopardstown, there are 15 races across the weekend, eight of those being Grade One contests.

Some of the sport’s leading names, including Honeysuckle, Minella Indo and Monkfish all look to set to be in action, and we have previewed the racing with our definitive guide to two of the most enthralling days of action in the sporting calendar.

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The meeting first took place in 2018, the Dublin Racing Festival essentially amalgamating three stand-alone meetings at Leopardstown between late January and mid-February.

Across the two days, there are eight Grade Ones, two Grades Twos, a Grade A handicap and four Grade B handicaps.

The meeting offers opportunties for the best to take on the best in a variety of disciplines, and also fits perfectly into the wider racing calendar, taking place around six or seven weeks before the Cheltenham Festival.

The meeting has been a major success since its inception. Over 26,000 people attended the first Dublin Racing Festival, with millions more watching at home. Although this year’s meeting will be held behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, those at Leopardstown hope to make the meeting as inclusive an experience for all of those watching at home.

The meeting as a whole boasts a prize-money pool of €1.85 million, which has cemented its place as one of the highlights in the National Hunt racing calendar.

Last year’s heroes included Honeysuckle, who captured the Irish Champion Hurdle before enjoying Cheltenham Festival glory in the Mares’ Hurdle.

However, the stand-out moment in 2020 saw 12-year-old Faugheen, one of the sport’s superstars, create history by winning the Grade One Flogas Novice Chase.

Staged on February 6 and 7, the Grade One Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle begins proceedings at 1.05pm on Saturday, with the Grade Two Coolmore National Hunt Sires Irish EBF Mares Bumper concluding the action at 4.40pm on Sunday.

The track is situated eight kilometres south of Dublin city centre, and stages both National Hunt and Flat racing. The course was built by Captain George Quin and is modelled on Sandown Park Racecourse. It was completed in 1888 and acquired by the Horse Racing Board of Ireland in 1967.

The Leopardstown golf course and club house are situated in the middle of the racetrack. Some of the most famous races staged at Leopardstown include the Christmas Hurdle, Savills Chase, the Irish Champion Stakes and of course, all of the action at the Dublin Racing Festival.

First run in 1999, the contest was named the Waterford Crystal Novice Hurdle. Four years later in 2003, the race name was changed to commemorate Golden Cygnet who sustained a fatal injury in 1978, and Vincent O’Brien revealed he was the best hurdler he had ever seen.

From 2016, the contest has been run as the Nathaniel Lacy and Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle and was upgraded to Grade One status as part of the first Dublin Racing Festival.

Officially, this contest was a new event. However, it was a rebranded version of Punchestown’s Tied Cottage Chase, won by the likes of Moscow Flyer and Sizing Europe.

It was upgraded to Grade 1 status in 2019. Willie Mullins has won the first three renewals of the contest with Min (2018 & 2019), and Chacun Pour Soi (2020).

First run in 1956, and originally known as the Milltown Novice Chase, its current title pays tribute to a sporting icon in Arkle, who won the race in 1963 and went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on three occasions.

Willie Mullins has won the contest on six occasions, and his 2018 hero Footpad was the last horse to win the Irish Arkle, before going on to land the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

One of the most iconic races of the weekend, which is also the oldest race held at the meeting.

First run in 1950, the original master of Ballydoyle, Vincent O’Brien, won the first running with three-time Champion Hurdle winner Hatton’s Grace.

Other famous winners include Dawn Run (1984), Nomadic Way (1990), Brave Inca (2006 & 2009) and Hardy Eustace (2007).

Two of the most famous winners of the contest are four-time hero Istabraq (1998-2001) and Hurricane Fly, the most successful horse in the race’s history with five successive wins between 2011 and 2015.

Last year’s winner Honeysuckle will attempt to defend her crown in this year’s renewal which will be sponsored by Irish pharmaceutical company Chanelle Pharma for the first time.

Originally run as a Listed contest when first created in 1994. It was raised to Grade Three level in 1995, Grade Two in 2003 and has been a Grade One event since 2010.

The race is restricted to four-year-olds and can serve as a target for juveniles ahead of the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Famous winners include Commanche Court (1997), Our Conor (2013) ad Footpad (2016).

First run in 1987, the contest has been sponsored by the Chanelle Pharmaceutical Group since 2019. Closutton maestro Willie Mullins has won the contest eight times during his glittering career with the likes of Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014) and more recently Asterion Forlonge (2020).

Former winners Danoli (1994), Istabraq (1997), Like-A-Butterfly (2002), Brave Inca (2004), Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014) and Samcro (2018) went on to land either the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle or the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Perhaps best known as the Dr P.J.Moriaty Memorial Novice Chase to honour the life of Paddy Moriarty, the former chief executive of the ESB (Electricity Supply Board). Moriarty was also on the board of Leopardstown Racecourse.

Renamed the Flogas Novice Chase in 2015, veteran Faugheen created one of the most significant moments in horse racing history when winning the event at the age of 12 last season.

First run in 1987, the contest was originally known as the Vincent O'Brien Irish Gold Cup. The race was renamed the Hennessy Gold Cup in 1991, when Hennessy began sponsoring and it was often referred to as the "Irish Hennessy" before their sponsorship ended in 2015, and the race was renamed the Irish Gold Cup.

Florida Pearl was a four-time winner of the contest, whilst three horses have completed the Irish-Cheltenham Gold Cup double in the same year – Jodami (1993), Imperial Call (1996) and Sizing John (2017).

All of Ireland’s leading trainers and jockeys will be in action across the two days, and the extravaganza will feature an abundance of contenders trained by Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott.

Other trainers to note include Henry de Bromhead, Noel Meade, Jessica Harrington and Joseph O’Brien.

Ireland’s champion jockey Paul Townend will have a host of big rides across the two days for Willie Mullins, whilst Rachael Blackmore, one of the brightest talents in the game, will partner the likes of Honeysuckle and Minella Indo. Mark Walsh, Jack Kennedy and Sean Flanagan are others to note.

Chacun Pour Soi vs Min – Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (Saturday, 1.35pm)

There have only been three renewals of this contest and Willie Mullins’ duo, Chacun Pour Soi and Min, have shared the spoils between them. Min won the first two renewals but was no match for his stable companion in the 2020 when beaten three and three-quarter lengths.

Min comes into this race on the back of a third straight win in the John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown, whilst Chacun Pour Soi followed up an easy win in the Hilly Way Chase with a third Grade One success at Leopardstown over Christmas. This promises to be another fascinating clash between two of the sport’s leading lights.

Energumene vs Unexcepted - Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Saturday, 2.10pm)

An intriguing contest between two stable companions. Energumene has looked a superstar in two starts over fences, backing up an easy win on chasing debut at Gowran Park, before scoring at Naas in January.

However, despite his leading claims, he takes on the unexposed Unexcepted who was an easy winner at Tipperary on his debut over fences. He will need to step up on that form but is capable of further improvement.

Honeysuckle vs Sharjah vs Saint Roi - Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (Saturday, 3.15pm)

Honeysuckle and Racheal Blackmore have lit up the racing world over the past couple of years and the pair will look to extend their unbeaten run under rules to ten wins, from as many starts in this contest.

The seven-year-old produced a gutsy performance to land this Grade One event by a half a length last season, before going on to taste Cheltenham Festival success in the Mares’ Hurdle.

Henry de Bromhead’s superstar returned to action with a second victory in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in November and rates as the one to beat.

The dangers are headed by the Willie Mullins-trained duo, Sharjah and Saint Roi. The former recorded a third straight win in the Matheson Hurdle last time out and looks the pick of the opposition, whilst Saint Roi, only fourth in the same event at Leopardstown last time out, is still unexposed and capable of further improvement despite an underwhelming season so far.

French Aseel vs Quilixios - Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle (Sunday, 1.40pm)

This promises to be a cracking clash. Quilixios was a smart winner on hurdling debut in France and has since looked a highly promising sort in two starts in Ireland.

He backed up victory at Punchestown in October with success at Downroyal later that month.

Not seen since, he is a hugely exciting prospect. However, French Aseel rates as a fascinating contender. Bought for €62,000 at Arqana in July, the four-year-old created a striking impression when winning by 22 lengths on his debut at Leopardstown in December.

The French Fifteen gelding was subsequently bought privately by owners Joe and Marie Donnelly and has joined Willie Mullins.

The sky could be the limit with this horse, and this looks a brilliant match-up.

Monkfish vs Latest Exhibition – Flogas Novice Chase (Sunday, 3.10pm)

Faugheen brought the house down with success in this race last year and Willie Mullins, Paul Townend and Rich Ricci are chasing more glory in this event with Monkfish.

The seven-year-old was a gutsy winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and has gone on to land his first two starts over fences.

The Stowaway gelding defeated old foe Latest Exhibition on his latest start and the pair will renew their rivalry in this event.

Paul Nolan’s stable star captured Grade One honours over hurdles at last year’s Dublin Racing Festival, but is still chasing a top-level victory over the larger obstacles.

Minella Indo vs Kemboy vs Melon vs Delta Work – Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (Sunday, 3.40pm)

The feature contest of the weekend, which boasts a prize fund of €200,000. The key piece of form is the Savills Chase which was won by A Plus Tard over Christmas.

He heads straight for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but there are plenty of big names ready to light up Leopardstown.

Kemboy was narrowly denied by A Plus Tard in the Savills Chase and has leading claims, along with Melon and Delta Work, who won this race last year, but needs to bounce back from two disappointing efforts this season.

However, the most fascinating contender is Minella Indo. He unshipped Rachael Blackmore in the early stages of the Savills Chase and is a leading player if none the worse for that mishap, given his ultra-progressive profile.

Envoi Allen is racing’s latest superstar and in 2019 he captured the concluding race on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival, the €100,000 Goffs Future Stars (C & G) I.N.H. Flat Race.

This year’s renewal promises to be a fascinating event, which features Envoi Allen’s stable-companion Sir Gerhard.

A £400,000 purchase, he is unbeaten in two starts under Rules. Ramillies runs in the colours of dual Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo and is a highly thought of prospect.

The £215,000 purchase recorded an emphatic ten-length successs at Leopardstown over the Festive period and could be another star of the future.

Other possible runners include Chemical Energy and Whatdeawant who bring unbeaten records into the event.

Our team of experts will be on hand with their selections and insight to the big clashes taking place this weekend, all of which will be available on racingtv.com.

With the likes of Andy Stephens aka The Score, Dave Nevison and Irish expert Johnny Ward in your corner, there will be plenty of expert analysis available.

You can also take a look at all the racecards here.

1.05pm Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors 50k Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff' Novice Hurdle (Grade One, 2m 6f)

1.35pm Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (Grade 1, 2m 1f)

2.10pm Patrick Ward & Company Solicitors Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1, 2m 1f)

2.45pm Matheson Handicap Steeplechase (Grade B, 2m 1f)

3.15pm Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m)

3.50pm Ladbrokes Hurdle (Grade B, 3.50pm)

4.25pm Goffs Future Stars (C & G) I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2, 4.25pm)

1.10pm Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle (Grade B, 2m 2f)

1.40pm Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m)

2.10pm Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m)

2.40pm William Fry Handicap Hurdle (Grade B, 3m)

3.10pm Flogas Novice Chase (Grade 1, 2m 5f)

3.40pm Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (Grade 1, 3m)

4.10pm Gaelic Plant Hire Leopardstown Handicap Steeplechase (Grade A, 4.10pm)

4.40pm Coolmore N.H. Sires Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2, 2m)

__Watch all 15 races from the Dublin Racing Festival live and exclusively on Racing TV this weekend.