Rematches aplenty in excellent Grade 1 DRF entries
Thursday, January 08, 2026
Galopin Des Champs bids for a fourth win in The Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Dublin Racing Festival on Saturday January 31.
The entries for the eight Grade 1 races at the Dublin Racing Festival (DRF) point to a huge treat in store for racegoers on Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1 at Leopardstown.
Since its inception in 2018, DRF has become one of the jewels in the Irish racing calendar, offering racing of the very highest quality and a social experience like no other with large numbers of National Hunt fans also attending from Britain.
“We are very excited by the quality of the potential fields for the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival,” said Mark Clayton, Leopardstown’s new chief executive officer.
“Perhaps the most striking feature is how many rematches are on the cards from our Christmas Festival. Virtually all the Grade 1 races at the DRF have the narrative of scores to settle between the best horses.
“Combined with course-wide entertainment, the immersive JockeyCam VR experiences and live music before and after racing, it will be a super two days, both on and off the track.”
The weekend will carry over €2 million in prize money across 15 races. It also serves as a crucial staging post towards the Cheltenham Festival.
Last year, no fewer than seven DRF participants went on to win Grade 1 races at Prestbury Park in March. Only two horses – Kopek Des Bordes and Bambino Fever – succeeded at both fixtures.
The following is a summary of the early entries for the big weekend.
Saturday, January 31
The Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup – Grade 1 – 3m70y
Galopin Des Champs already ranks among the chasing greats and will join Florida Pearl on a record four wins in this race if successful. His seasonal return when third in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Christmas was full of promise with a view to the second half of the season. He sets the standard.
His trainer Willie Mullins has nine of the 20 entries, including multiple Grade 1 winners Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior, allied with Savills runner-up, I Am Maximus, and the elite mare Spindleberry among others.
Affordale Fury announced himself as a chaser of the highest calibre in the Savills Chase and Noel Meade’s eight-year-old surely has more big prizes ahead of him. The question is whether he can repel a more match-fit Galopin Des Champs.
Inothewayurthinkin is taking the same route that led to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory a year ago and Haiti Couleurs, winner of the Irish and Welsh Grand Nationals in the past year, is the sole British entrant.
The Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Steeplechase – Grade 1 – 2m1f
Gordon Elliott’s Romeo Coolio and Irish Panther, trained by Eddie and Patrick Harty, served up one of the clashes of the Christmas Festival in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase when only half a length separated the pair.
Meanwhile, the debut by Kopek Des Bordes over fences at Navan in November could hardly have gone any smoother when he won by 13 lengths and, from the Willie Mullins camp, he rates a conspicuous threat to all.
Kala Conti is another entrant from Elliott and she has been freshened up since easily collecting a Grade 2 mares’ novice chase at Cork a month ago.
The Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m
Narciso Has looked a recruit of immense potential when bolting up in a Grade 2 at this course and distance over the holidays.
One race prior, however, Narciso Has was beaten by Gordon Elliott’s Mange Tout in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse at the end of November and the latter has not run since. The rematch will reveal plenty.
There are 16 entries for this juvenile contest, five apiece from Mullins and Elliott. Another to display a high level of form is Highland Crystal, a Listed winner at Newbury for Elliott.
The Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m6f53y
This staying novice hurdle commences the weekend’s action and the red-hot Gordon Elliott team is stacked with almost half of the 37 preliminary entries. Classical Creek might be a likely sort judged on how he won his maiden hurdle over 2m4f at Navan in November.
Willie Mullins has won four of the last five editions of this race and has fielded eight entries. Doctor Steinberg, a Grade 2 winner over 2m4f at Navan early in December, appears of note at this early stage.
Klimt Madrik, runner-up in the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury post-Christmas, has been entered by progressive young Surrey trainer Toby Lawes.
Tony Martin’s Zanndabad is particularly experienced for a novice and the 7yo has won his last two starts, both in England.
Sunday, February 1
The Irish Champion Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m
This is virtually a shootout between the two most prolific trainers. Willie fields five and Gordon has three with another rematch in the offing between Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead, one-two in the Grade 1 December Hurdle recently, with a length favouring the former.
At Punchestown on New Year’s Eve, Mullins’ El Fabiolo appeared to relish being back over hurdles for the first time in almost four years. Connections may seek another major title for this four-time Grade 1 winning chaser. Mullins also has Ballyburn and last year’s Triumph Hurdle hero, Poniros, among the potential starters.
Hereford trainer Kerry Lee has engaged Nemean Lion, a close third in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle on his return in late November.
The Ladbrokes Dublin Steeplechase – Grade 1 – 2m1f
Could this race provide the highlight of the weekend? Quite possibly with a reprise on the cards of the cracking Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase last month when Solness, trained by Joseph O’Brien, narrowly defeated Barry Connell’s unlucky-in-running Marine Nationale with Majborough in third.
If those are not enough, add to the mix Il Etait Temps, six times a Grade 1 winner, most recently in the Tingle Creek at Sandown by nine lengths, and you have all the ingredients for a humdinger.
The Ladbrokes Novice Steeplechase – Grade 1 – 2m5f107y
Willie Mullins has won five of the last six editions of this race via the likes of Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File. The Closutton trainer might fancy his chances of keeping the streak going with the excellent Final Demand, fresh from a very convincing Grade 1 success at Limerick.
Kitzbuhel, last seen winning the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton, is also among the eight entries from the champion trainer.
Gordon Elliott has nominated seven from his stable, some of which are doubly engaged, but last year’s Galway Plate winner Western Fold commands plenty of respect, especially since he also defeated subsequent Grade 1 star Affordale Fury on his seasonal reappearance.
The Big Westerner was another classy winner over the festive period, in a Grade 2 at Limerick, and she represents trainer Henry de Bromhead.
The Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m
Remarkably, Willie Mullins has won 12 of the past 13 editions of this contest with the only glitch being Samcro scoring for Gordon Elliott in 2018.
There might be a chance the streak is broken again since Elliott could be represented by Skylight Hustle, winner of a Grade 1 novice here just a couple of weeks ago and the unbeaten Ballyfad, who bolted up in a maiden hurdle at the same meeting. The same trainer was denied a certain winner when exciting recent recruit El Cairos stumbled after the final flight of another maiden hurdle that week and he is also listed.
Others very much of note are Willie Mullins’ classy Flat recruit The Reverend who won on his hurdles debut at Cork along with the very highly regarded Talk The Talk, trained by Joseph O’Brien, another luckless final-flight faller in Skylight Hustle’s recent Grade 1 when he had the race at his mercy.
Click here for link to entries for Day 1 of Dublin Racing Festival
Click here for link to entries for Day 2 of Dublin Racing Festival
Since its inception in 2018, DRF has become one of the jewels in the Irish racing calendar, offering racing of the very highest quality and a social experience like no other with large numbers of National Hunt fans also attending from Britain.
“We are very excited by the quality of the potential fields for the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival,” said Mark Clayton, Leopardstown’s new chief executive officer.
“Perhaps the most striking feature is how many rematches are on the cards from our Christmas Festival. Virtually all the Grade 1 races at the DRF have the narrative of scores to settle between the best horses.
“Combined with course-wide entertainment, the immersive JockeyCam VR experiences and live music before and after racing, it will be a super two days, both on and off the track.”
The weekend will carry over €2 million in prize money across 15 races. It also serves as a crucial staging post towards the Cheltenham Festival.
Last year, no fewer than seven DRF participants went on to win Grade 1 races at Prestbury Park in March. Only two horses – Kopek Des Bordes and Bambino Fever – succeeded at both fixtures.
The following is a summary of the early entries for the big weekend.
Saturday, January 31
The Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup – Grade 1 – 3m70y
Galopin Des Champs already ranks among the chasing greats and will join Florida Pearl on a record four wins in this race if successful. His seasonal return when third in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Christmas was full of promise with a view to the second half of the season. He sets the standard.
His trainer Willie Mullins has nine of the 20 entries, including multiple Grade 1 winners Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior, allied with Savills runner-up, I Am Maximus, and the elite mare Spindleberry among others.
Affordale Fury announced himself as a chaser of the highest calibre in the Savills Chase and Noel Meade’s eight-year-old surely has more big prizes ahead of him. The question is whether he can repel a more match-fit Galopin Des Champs.
Inothewayurthinkin is taking the same route that led to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory a year ago and Haiti Couleurs, winner of the Irish and Welsh Grand Nationals in the past year, is the sole British entrant.
The Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Steeplechase – Grade 1 – 2m1f
Gordon Elliott’s Romeo Coolio and Irish Panther, trained by Eddie and Patrick Harty, served up one of the clashes of the Christmas Festival in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase when only half a length separated the pair.
Meanwhile, the debut by Kopek Des Bordes over fences at Navan in November could hardly have gone any smoother when he won by 13 lengths and, from the Willie Mullins camp, he rates a conspicuous threat to all.
Kala Conti is another entrant from Elliott and she has been freshened up since easily collecting a Grade 2 mares’ novice chase at Cork a month ago.
The Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m
Narciso Has looked a recruit of immense potential when bolting up in a Grade 2 at this course and distance over the holidays.
One race prior, however, Narciso Has was beaten by Gordon Elliott’s Mange Tout in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse at the end of November and the latter has not run since. The rematch will reveal plenty.
There are 16 entries for this juvenile contest, five apiece from Mullins and Elliott. Another to display a high level of form is Highland Crystal, a Listed winner at Newbury for Elliott.
The Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m6f53y
This staying novice hurdle commences the weekend’s action and the red-hot Gordon Elliott team is stacked with almost half of the 37 preliminary entries. Classical Creek might be a likely sort judged on how he won his maiden hurdle over 2m4f at Navan in November.
Willie Mullins has won four of the last five editions of this race and has fielded eight entries. Doctor Steinberg, a Grade 2 winner over 2m4f at Navan early in December, appears of note at this early stage.
Klimt Madrik, runner-up in the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury post-Christmas, has been entered by progressive young Surrey trainer Toby Lawes.
Tony Martin’s Zanndabad is particularly experienced for a novice and the 7yo has won his last two starts, both in England.
Sunday, February 1
The Irish Champion Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m
This is virtually a shootout between the two most prolific trainers. Willie fields five and Gordon has three with another rematch in the offing between Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead, one-two in the Grade 1 December Hurdle recently, with a length favouring the former.
At Punchestown on New Year’s Eve, Mullins’ El Fabiolo appeared to relish being back over hurdles for the first time in almost four years. Connections may seek another major title for this four-time Grade 1 winning chaser. Mullins also has Ballyburn and last year’s Triumph Hurdle hero, Poniros, among the potential starters.
Hereford trainer Kerry Lee has engaged Nemean Lion, a close third in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle on his return in late November.
The Ladbrokes Dublin Steeplechase – Grade 1 – 2m1f
Could this race provide the highlight of the weekend? Quite possibly with a reprise on the cards of the cracking Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase last month when Solness, trained by Joseph O’Brien, narrowly defeated Barry Connell’s unlucky-in-running Marine Nationale with Majborough in third.
If those are not enough, add to the mix Il Etait Temps, six times a Grade 1 winner, most recently in the Tingle Creek at Sandown by nine lengths, and you have all the ingredients for a humdinger.
The Ladbrokes Novice Steeplechase – Grade 1 – 2m5f107y
Willie Mullins has won five of the last six editions of this race via the likes of Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File. The Closutton trainer might fancy his chances of keeping the streak going with the excellent Final Demand, fresh from a very convincing Grade 1 success at Limerick.
Kitzbuhel, last seen winning the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton, is also among the eight entries from the champion trainer.
Gordon Elliott has nominated seven from his stable, some of which are doubly engaged, but last year’s Galway Plate winner Western Fold commands plenty of respect, especially since he also defeated subsequent Grade 1 star Affordale Fury on his seasonal reappearance.
The Big Westerner was another classy winner over the festive period, in a Grade 2 at Limerick, and she represents trainer Henry de Bromhead.
The Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle – Grade 1 – 2m
Remarkably, Willie Mullins has won 12 of the past 13 editions of this contest with the only glitch being Samcro scoring for Gordon Elliott in 2018.
There might be a chance the streak is broken again since Elliott could be represented by Skylight Hustle, winner of a Grade 1 novice here just a couple of weeks ago and the unbeaten Ballyfad, who bolted up in a maiden hurdle at the same meeting. The same trainer was denied a certain winner when exciting recent recruit El Cairos stumbled after the final flight of another maiden hurdle that week and he is also listed.
Others very much of note are Willie Mullins’ classy Flat recruit The Reverend who won on his hurdles debut at Cork along with the very highly regarded Talk The Talk, trained by Joseph O’Brien, another luckless final-flight faller in Skylight Hustle’s recent Grade 1 when he had the race at his mercy.
Click here for link to entries for Day 1 of Dublin Racing Festival
Click here for link to entries for Day 2 of Dublin Racing Festival
We are very excited by the quality of the potential fields for the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival
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