Dublin Racing Festival 2021: essential information for the races at Leopardstown

The countdown to the Dublin Racing Festival is on, with the two-day meeting at Leopardstown attracting some of the most talented horses, trainers and jockeys in Irish jump racing.

Held each February, there are seven races on the Saturday card, highlighted by the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle, while Sunday showcases an eight-race fixture, spearheaded by the prestigious Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup.

Big-race entries: Dublin Racing Festival

When and where does the Dublin Racing Festival take place?

First introduced in 2018, the Dublin Racing Festival has quickly become a vital element of the Irish jump racing calendar, held at Leopardstown racecourse, just 8km south of the capital's city centre.

Dublin Racing Festival: popular event will be held behind closed doors in 2021Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Held on February 6 and 7, the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle kicks off the two-day bonanza at 1.05pm on Saturday, with the Grade 2 Coolmore National Hunt Sires Irish EBF Mares Bumper bringing the curtain down on the weekend at 4.40pm on Sunday.

Thankfully, the meeting will still go ahead during the pandemic under the Irish government's exemption for elite sport but – understandably – crowds cannot attend. The 2020 festival drew an overall attendance of 26,474, a record in its early existence.

Why is the meeting so important?

With the Cheltenham Festival just around the corner, this weekend is one of the final opportunities for Irish hopefuls to seal their trip to the Cotswolds, with a host of tests across almost every division over the course of the two days.

Envoi Allen and Klassical Dream won at the Dublin Racing Festival in 2019 before going on to strike at Cheltenham, just as Honeysuckle did last year.

ITV Racing to broadcast eight Dublin Racing Festival races across superb weekend

However, the meeting is a massive event in its own right and brings together some of Ireland's most prestigious races, as well a very healthy prize-money pool of €1.85 million (down from a total of €2.15 million last year due to the impact of Covid-19).

The meeting provided one of the most memorable moments in recent Leopardstown history 12 months ago when the legendary Faugheen rolled back the years to win the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase at the age of 12.

Faugheen received a tremendous reception after winning the Flogas Novice Chase at last year's Dublin Racing FestivalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Talented British-trained runners have added some intrigue to the festival in the past but owing to the difficulties of travelling during the pandemic, Leopardstown chief executive Tim Husbands recently admitted it is "highly unlikely" this year's event will have competitors from across the Irish Sea.

What are the main races and horses set to take centre stage over the weekend?

The meeting hosts a glittering array of Grade 1s, eight in total, but the two most valuable races of the weekend are the €150,000 Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle on day one and the €200,000 Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup on day two.

The Irish Champion Hurdle has been won by some of Ireland's most talented performers of all time, with the spectacular Hurricane Fly holding the record for most wins in the race with his five-timer from 2011 to 2015.

Hatton's Grace, Flyingbolt, L'Escargot, Captain Christy, Dawn Run, Istabraq, Brave Inca, Hardy Eustace, Sizing Europe, Faugheen and Apple's Jade have all plundered the prize in the past.

The entries for this year's race are spearheaded by the 2020 heroine Honeysuckle, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore.

Townend and Hurricane Fly, on whom he scored six Grade 1 successes

Hurricane Fly: virtually unbeatable in the Irish Champion HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The unbeaten star mare could take on Leopardstown specialist Sharjah, improving stablemate Aspire Tower, Cheltenham Festival hero Saint Roi and Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up Abacadabras.

Meanwhile, the Irish Gold Cup is one of the most sought-after prizes in the jumping calendar and can often produce pointers towards the Cheltenham Gold Cup, won by star names like Carvill's Hill, Jodami, Imperial Call, Beef Or Salmon, Sizing John and record-breaking four-time winner Florida Pearl.

The 2021 edition of the race could see high-class operator Minella Indo bid to bounce back after falling over the same course and distance in the Savills Chase in December.

Kemboy, who was just touched off in that Grade 1 by A Plus Tard, is also in contention for Irish Gold Cup glory, as are the likes of Melon, Delta Work, Castlebawn West and Presenting Percy.

What are the other highlights?

The Dublin Racing Festival is full of top-notch treats for racing fans, including an apparently likely appearance from sublime two-miler Chacun Pour Soi in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase on day one of the meeting.

Rapidly progressive chaser Energumene, trained by Willie Mullins, is towards the head of ante-post markets for the top-level Irish Arkle Novice Chase on the same day, while last year's Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle threw up Albert Bartlett second Latest Exhibition and is bound to have a star-studded cast in store again.

Sunday's Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile (Grade 1) will likely provide some context around the pecking order of four-year-old hurdlers in Ireland this season. The Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle later on the same card has a rich history and is always worth watching with an eye towards the future.

Monkfish: holds an entry for this year's Dublin Racing Festival in the Flogas Novice ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

We could also get the chance to see leading Cheltenham hope Monkfish strut his stuff in the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase on the Sunday, a tasty affair on a weekend that also showcases some fiercely competitive handicaps and classy bumpers.

What trainers and jockeys will be competing at the Dublin Racing Festival?

Virtually all of Ireland's leading trainers and riders will be in action over the two days – anyone in the Irish jumping ranks will dream of being there if they can!

The likes of Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott, Henry de Bromhead, Jessica Harrington and Joseph O'Brien have been to the fore in the opening three years of the festival from a training perspective.

Champion jockey Paul Townend, Rachael Blackmore, Jack Kennedy and Mark Walsh are all likely to have strong chances over the two-day extravaganza, while it remains to be seen if Davy Russell will have recovered from injury in time to make it back.

How can I watch the racing?

All of the quality action will be aired on Racing TV. ITV will show two races from the Saturday fixture during its broadcast from Sandown and Musselburgh before showcasing six races on Sunday's glittering card.

Irish terrestrial viewers can follow the action on RTE for both of the weekend's cards, while you can also watch all the races you've bet on via the Racing Post website and mobile app during the Dublin Racing Festival.

Who should I bet on at the Dublin Racing Festival?

Have a look at the cards and check out our free bet offers to start with, then stay up to date with the Racing Post website, mobile app and newspaper for our expert betting advice and all the latest news in the run-up to the big weekend.

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Published on 31 January 2021inNews