What should punters expect of the ground at the Dublin Racing Festival?

Leopardstown clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer is expecting the ground to be yielding for the start of the Dublin Racing Festival on Saturday.

Watering has continued this week after 160mm was applied throughout January, with the going remaining yielding on Friday morning.

The track was hit by 7mm of rain on Thursday night, with 10-12mm of rain expected on Saturday afternoon into Saturday night. Sunday is expected to be damp and overcast.

The Dublin track has been at the centre of criticism in recent years for delivering ground considered too quick by some at a number of its flagship meetings, with several high-profile connections – including Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins – emphasising their desire for safe conditions.

That advice seems to have been heeded by Wyer, with Elliott praising conditions on Wednesday when revealing plans for his team.

'It looks in good nick' – Elliott's DRF team given green light after course walk (Members' Club)

"The going is yielding on both tracks," Wyer said on Thursday.

"The fence positions are the same as they were at Christmas. The rail alignment on the chase track is a slightly wider line and that is reflected in the advertised distances at the weekend, it is a slightly longer race track.

"We are watering, that's ongoing. It has been a dry month everywhere, January has been a dry month with 3-4mm of rain."

Minella Indo: runs in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup on SaturdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Declarations for the first day of the festival were also revealed on Thursday with Elliott and Mullins sending an all-star cast to Leopardstown.

Frodon, Kemboy and Minella Indo are among the eight declared for the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3.15) on Saturday.

Fil Dor will spearhead Elliott's team for the festival as he and fellow unbeaten runner Vauban head the field for the Spring Juvenile Hurdle (1.35).

A field of six has been declared for the Irish Arkle Novice Chase (2.10), headed by Blue Lord, Riviere D’Etel and Haute En Couleurs.

Hollow Games and Grand Jury are among the eight declared for the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (1.15).

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