Forfeits show depth of quality at Dublin Racing Festival this weekend
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
.png?lang=en-IE&ext=.png "Forfeits show depth of quality at Dublin Racing Festival this weekend")
Lossiemouth and State Man battle it out in the 2025 Irish Champion Hurdle. Lossiemouth is bidding for a win in this year's renewal of the newly sponsored Timeless Sash Windows Irish Champion Hurdle on Sunday.
Today’s forfeit stage has given added shape to the likely fields for this weekend’s ticket-only Dublin Racing Festival (DRF) at Leopardstown.
The following is a brief overview of the present status of the fields for all the graded races before declarations this Thursday for Saturday’s meeting on January 31 and on Friday for Sunday’s February 1 card.
DRF- Leopardstown, Saturday, January 31 post-forfeit stage graded entries
Race 1 – 1.15pm - Nathaniel Lacy Solicitors Novice Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m6f53y – 5yo+
A total of 12 horses stand their ground. Skylight Hustle, a Grade 1 winner here at Christmas over 2m for Gordon Elliott, moves up in trip to face, among others, Doctor Steinberg, prominent from the Willie Mullins team.
Race 2 – 1.50pm - Gannon’s City Recovery Juvenile Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m – 4yo
Nine are left in this juvenile hurdle with the rematch of Narciso Has (Willie Mullins) and Mange Tout (Gordon Elliott) remaining on track. The latter came out on top when the pair first met in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse in November. Narciso Has looked very good indeed in a Grade 2 at this course and distance a month later.
Race 4 – 2.55pm – Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chae – Grade 1 – 2m1f – 5yo+
Romeo Coolio (Gordon Elliott) and Irish Panther (Eddie & Patrick Harty), one-two in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase here at Christmas are on course to duel again. They are likely to be joined by Kopek Des Bordes (Willie Mullins), a dual Grade 1 winning hurdler (including at this meeting last year) who convincingly scored in a beginners’ chase, his only start over fences, in November.
Race 5 – 3.30pm – Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup – Grade 1 – 3m70y – 5yo+
The most anticipated race for many has a very healthy 15 runners left in. Galopin Des Champs seeks his fourth consecutive success in the race. He will renew rivalry with Affordale Fury winner of the Grade 1 Savills Chase here over Christmas for Noel Meade when I Am Maximus ran second and Galopin Des Champs was third on his first run of the season. Irish and Welsh Grand National hero Haiti Couleurs adds considerable spice from the Pembrokeshire base of trainer Rebecca Curtis.
Race 7 – 4.40pm – Paddy Power (C&G) INH Flat Race – Grade 2 – 2m – 4yo-6yo
Unusually, Willie Mullins does not have a runner in this race, one he has won four times since its introduction in 2018. Gordon Elliott has half of the eight runners, perhaps headed by Charismatic Kid who won so well for former trainer Colm Ryan last month at Navan. Martin Brassil may field It’s Only A Game while Charles Byrnes, who has a very good DRF strike-rate, has left in Rojuco Mac, a bumper winner at Limerick over Christmas.
Leopardstown, Sunday, February 1 post-forfeit stage graded entries
Race 2 – 1.10pm – Ladbrokes Novice Chase – Grade 1 - 2m5f107y -5yo+
Final Demand sets the standard here and from a total of nine left, he is one of five entries from Willie Mullins’ team, also including recent Kempton Grade 1 winner Kitzbuhel. The aforementioned Romeo Coolio is doubly entered, but his trainer Gordon Elliott also relies on Galway Plate hero Western Fold and Kala Conti.
Race 3 – 1.40pm – Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m – 5yo+
Willie Mullins has won 12 of the last 13 editions of this race and all of the last seven. Of the 14 entries remaining, the Closutton trainer has narrowed his challenge down to King Rasko Grey, Le Divin Enfant, The Reverend and Davy Crockett.
Trained by Joseph O’Brien, Talk The Talk would surely have won a Grade 1 at this course and distance at Christmas but for tumbling at the final hurdle while Ballyfad bolted up in a maiden hurdle for Gordon Elliott at the same festival. The latter also trains the very highly rated El Cairos who remains in the mix but is also declared for Thurles on Thursday.
Race 4 – 2.10pm – Ladbrokes Dublin Chase – Grade 1 – 2m1f – 5yo+
Seconds out, round 2 between Solness, Marine National and Majborough – 1,2,3 in the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at this same course and distance a month ago - and this is sure to be one of the races of the weekend. Seven horses are in contention at this stage.
Race 6 – 3.20pm – Timeless Sash Windows Irish Champion Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m – 4yo+
Keeping up the theme of hostilities being renewed, Lossiemouth (Willie Mullins) and Brighterdaysahead (Gordon Elliott), first and second in the Grade 1 December Hurdle a month ago, clash again. There was just a length between them last time and they stand out among the seven engaged. Willie may also run El Fabiolo who looked reinvigorated back over hurdles at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve.
Race 8- 4.27pm – Coolmore NH Sires EBF INH Flat Races – Grade 2 – 2m – 4yo-6yo
Willie Mullins has won five of the eight editions of this mares’ bumper to date and has three of the 12 left before declarations on Friday: Maximilian Lady, Some Pretender and Wonderful Everyday. The opposition looks strong, however, and trainer Sonny Carey is in line to run Brosna Shine and Lilannbee. Tom Cooper’s Cheltenham winner Celestial Tune also commands respect as does Moonverrin, trained by Martin Hassett.
Click here for link to entries after forfeits for Day 1 of Dublin Racing Festival
Click here for link to entries after forfeits for Day 2 of Dublin Racing Festival
The following is a brief overview of the present status of the fields for all the graded races before declarations this Thursday for Saturday’s meeting on January 31 and on Friday for Sunday’s February 1 card.
DRF- Leopardstown, Saturday, January 31 post-forfeit stage graded entries
Race 1 – 1.15pm - Nathaniel Lacy Solicitors Novice Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m6f53y – 5yo+
A total of 12 horses stand their ground. Skylight Hustle, a Grade 1 winner here at Christmas over 2m for Gordon Elliott, moves up in trip to face, among others, Doctor Steinberg, prominent from the Willie Mullins team.
Race 2 – 1.50pm - Gannon’s City Recovery Juvenile Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m – 4yo
Nine are left in this juvenile hurdle with the rematch of Narciso Has (Willie Mullins) and Mange Tout (Gordon Elliott) remaining on track. The latter came out on top when the pair first met in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse in November. Narciso Has looked very good indeed in a Grade 2 at this course and distance a month later.
Race 4 – 2.55pm – Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chae – Grade 1 – 2m1f – 5yo+
Romeo Coolio (Gordon Elliott) and Irish Panther (Eddie & Patrick Harty), one-two in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase here at Christmas are on course to duel again. They are likely to be joined by Kopek Des Bordes (Willie Mullins), a dual Grade 1 winning hurdler (including at this meeting last year) who convincingly scored in a beginners’ chase, his only start over fences, in November.
Race 5 – 3.30pm – Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup – Grade 1 – 3m70y – 5yo+
The most anticipated race for many has a very healthy 15 runners left in. Galopin Des Champs seeks his fourth consecutive success in the race. He will renew rivalry with Affordale Fury winner of the Grade 1 Savills Chase here over Christmas for Noel Meade when I Am Maximus ran second and Galopin Des Champs was third on his first run of the season. Irish and Welsh Grand National hero Haiti Couleurs adds considerable spice from the Pembrokeshire base of trainer Rebecca Curtis.
Race 7 – 4.40pm – Paddy Power (C&G) INH Flat Race – Grade 2 – 2m – 4yo-6yo
Unusually, Willie Mullins does not have a runner in this race, one he has won four times since its introduction in 2018. Gordon Elliott has half of the eight runners, perhaps headed by Charismatic Kid who won so well for former trainer Colm Ryan last month at Navan. Martin Brassil may field It’s Only A Game while Charles Byrnes, who has a very good DRF strike-rate, has left in Rojuco Mac, a bumper winner at Limerick over Christmas.
Leopardstown, Sunday, February 1 post-forfeit stage graded entries
Race 2 – 1.10pm – Ladbrokes Novice Chase – Grade 1 - 2m5f107y -5yo+
Final Demand sets the standard here and from a total of nine left, he is one of five entries from Willie Mullins’ team, also including recent Kempton Grade 1 winner Kitzbuhel. The aforementioned Romeo Coolio is doubly entered, but his trainer Gordon Elliott also relies on Galway Plate hero Western Fold and Kala Conti.
Race 3 – 1.40pm – Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m – 5yo+
Willie Mullins has won 12 of the last 13 editions of this race and all of the last seven. Of the 14 entries remaining, the Closutton trainer has narrowed his challenge down to King Rasko Grey, Le Divin Enfant, The Reverend and Davy Crockett.
Trained by Joseph O’Brien, Talk The Talk would surely have won a Grade 1 at this course and distance at Christmas but for tumbling at the final hurdle while Ballyfad bolted up in a maiden hurdle for Gordon Elliott at the same festival. The latter also trains the very highly rated El Cairos who remains in the mix but is also declared for Thurles on Thursday.
Race 4 – 2.10pm – Ladbrokes Dublin Chase – Grade 1 – 2m1f – 5yo+
Seconds out, round 2 between Solness, Marine National and Majborough – 1,2,3 in the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at this same course and distance a month ago - and this is sure to be one of the races of the weekend. Seven horses are in contention at this stage.
Race 6 – 3.20pm – Timeless Sash Windows Irish Champion Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m – 4yo+
Keeping up the theme of hostilities being renewed, Lossiemouth (Willie Mullins) and Brighterdaysahead (Gordon Elliott), first and second in the Grade 1 December Hurdle a month ago, clash again. There was just a length between them last time and they stand out among the seven engaged. Willie may also run El Fabiolo who looked reinvigorated back over hurdles at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve.
Race 8- 4.27pm – Coolmore NH Sires EBF INH Flat Races – Grade 2 – 2m – 4yo-6yo
Willie Mullins has won five of the eight editions of this mares’ bumper to date and has three of the 12 left before declarations on Friday: Maximilian Lady, Some Pretender and Wonderful Everyday. The opposition looks strong, however, and trainer Sonny Carey is in line to run Brosna Shine and Lilannbee. Tom Cooper’s Cheltenham winner Celestial Tune also commands respect as does Moonverrin, trained by Martin Hassett.
Click here for link to entries after forfeits for Day 1 of Dublin Racing Festival
Click here for link to entries after forfeits for Day 2 of Dublin Racing Festival
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