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In this 1xBet review, we will identify the top favourites to win one of the season's key events and analyse the most interesting betting markets. Galopin Des Champs headlines a vintage Irish Gold Cup as Britain’s challenge looks thin, but history shows DRF form remains one of the strongest Festival indicators

Why the Dublin Racing Festival Matters

The Dublin Racing Festival has quickly established itself as one of the highlights of the National Hunt season. Last year more than 36,000 racegoers attended Leopardstown, with an estimated 13,000 travelling from Britain, underlining its growing cross-channel appeal.

While British fans continue to support the meeting in numbers, the same cannot be said for trainers and owners. This year Rebecca Curtis appears to be the sole UK-based trainer represented at the top level, with Haiti Couleurs flying the Welsh flag in Saturday’s feature, the Irish Gold Cup.

From a betting and form perspective, DRF has become one of the most reliable Cheltenham trial meetings of the season.

Last year alone it produced seven individual Cheltenham Festival winners, including:

• Kopek Des Bordes (Supreme)

• Lossiemouth (Mares’ Hurdle)

• Marine Nationale (Queen Mother Champion Chase)

• Bambino Fever (Champion Bumper)

• Fact To File (Ryanair)

• Jasmin De Vaux (Albert Bartlett)

• Inothewayurthinkin (Gold Cup)

Notably, only two won at Leopardstown first, a reminder that defeat here does not preclude Festival success.

Irish Gold Cup (Grade 1)

A familiar cast — and a potential legend

This year’s Irish Gold Cup brings together a deep and fascinating field.

Among those likely to line up:

• Galopin Des Champs

• Inothewayurthinkin

• Affordale Fury

• Haiti Couleurs

• Spindleberry

• Mullins pair I Am Maximus and Lecky Watson

But the narrative revolves around one horse.

Galopin Des Champs: The benchmark

Willie Mullins’ star bids to join Florida Pearl as only the second four-time winner of this race.

His Leopardstown record is formidable:

• Four consecutive DRF wins

• Seven wins from nine starts at the track

• Only unplaced effort came as a 100/1 novice hurdler

He missed the John Durkan earlier in the season and several Mullins runners underperformed over Christmas, so his latest third can arguably be upgraded. Fitness-wise, this second run of the campaign should see him much sharper.

Conditions also look in his favour, with softer ground likely to suit.

If he turns for home in contention, Leopardstown will erupt. He remains the one they all have to beat.

Reasons for caution

At cramped odds, scrutiny is essential.

Galopin is now 10 years old. While exceptional chasers such as Moscow Flyer and Kauto Star won Grade 1s at 11, they are rare outliers rather than the norm.

He has also been beaten on his last visits to both Cheltenham and Leopardstown, which suggests he is no longer bombproof.

That said, his Punchestown Gold Cup victory and Spillane’s Tower’s recent Cotswold Chase success give his recent form solid substance.

The Mullins supporting cast

Mullins saddled the first three home last year, and a similar scenario would surprise nobody.

Gaelic Warrior

• Five time Grade 1 winner

• Narrowly beaten last time out

• Suited by soft ground

• Unexposed over stamina trips

Patrick Mullins steered him to victory in the Aintree Bowl last season, and while he flopped behind Fact To File in a novice chase at this meeting two years ago, he did win a handicap hurdle at the previous DRF. 

I Am Maximus

• Grand National winner and runner-up under top weight

• Strong Leopardstown second last time

• Suited by stamina test and soft ground

• Likely strong pace to aim at

He looks a solid place contender with Jack Kennedy riding for the first time. 

Lecky Watson

• Brown Advisory winner at Cheltenham

• Lightly raced over fences

• Big price compared to market rivals

He requires improvement to win but makes each-way or exotic bet appeal at larger odds.

Other contenders

Inothewayurthinkin

Last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup hero, but his two runs this term have been underwhelming. Needs to bounce back.

Affordale Fury

Course-and-distance Grade 1 winner at Christmas and arrives in form.

Haiti Couleurs

Welsh National winner and likely pace angle. Could make this a proper stamina test.

Spindleberry

Unbeaten in her last five five runs and unexposed, though this represents a significant class jump.

Betting Angles

• ⭐ Most Likely Winner: Galopin Des Champs

• 💰 Value/Danger Gaelic Warrior

• 🎯 Big-price interest: I Am Maximus (each-way/exotics)

Final Word

The Irish Gold Cup once again looks a pivotal piece of Cheltenham evidence.

Galopin Des Champs may be attempting to etch his name alongside the greats, but Leopardstown rarely gives anything cheaply. With several unexposed rivals and a strong Mullins team behind him, this could be more competitive than the market suggests. He has drifted to bigger odds than I was expecting, so he is the pick for heart and head. 

For punters looking to translate these insights into bets, 1xBet offers full markets, enhanced odds and great offers across the entire Dublin Racing Festival.

Other Races

Saturday

1:15 Leopardstown

Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m6f

This is a race Willie Mullins has dominated, winning six of the last ten renewals, and Doctor Steinberg looks the one they all have to beat.

Unbeaten in two starts over hurdles, he made a taking impression on debut when defeating Frankie John, a performance that has since been franked. That rival went on to beat Jalon d’Oudairies over 2m4½f at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting. Doctor Steinberg then stepped forward again, making all to land a Grade 2 at Navan on soft-to-heavy ground.

The form continues to stack up. Runner-up Thedeviluno boosted the line by winning a Grade 2 at Doncaster last weekend, while the Paul Nolan-trained gelding had previously beaten Skylight Hustle, now a Grade 1 winner.

Doctor Steinberg brings the strongest form into the race, should control matters from the front, and can give the Mullins–Townend partnership a perfect start to the Festival.

1:50 Leopardstown

Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m

Mullins has also farmed this race, winning six of the last 11, and it remains the key Irish trial for the Triumph Hurdle.

The ante-post favourite for Cheltenham, Narciso Has, is odds-on with 1xBet and it’s easy to see why. Highly regarded at Closutton, he was an impressive Grade 2 winner at Leopardstown over Christmas and is expected to cement his Triumph claims. Mullins has won four of the last five Triumph Hurdles, which only strengthens confidence.

That said, this may not be a one-horse race.

Gordon Elliott has taken this contest twice in the last decade and Mange Tout brings compelling form, having beaten Narciso Has in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse. The pair pulled 12¼ lengths clear of Adrienne, whom Narciso Has beat by 11 lengths next time.

She gets the valuable mares’ allowance and has the superb Jack Kennedy in the saddle. Her pedigree also suggests further improvement. She is a half-sister to five-time Grade 1 winner Impaire Et Passe, while her sire Born To Sea has produced smart juveniles including Aspire Tower, A Wave Of The Sea and Adonis winner Mambonumberfive.

Soft ground should hold no fears either, having won on very soft ground on her sole start in France. Her family has shown a similar aptitude: her sire Born To Sea was second to Camelot on soft/heavy ground in the Irish Derby, and her half-brother has produced some of his best efforts on soft and heavy ground.

In what looks close to a coin flip, the 11/4 available about Mange Tout with 1xBet makes definite appeal, despite the obvious respect for the favourite’s potential to improve again.

2:25 Leopardstown

Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle (Listed, 4yo+, 0–150)

County Final looks particularly interesting.

He was narrowly beaten on handicap debut over an inadequate 2m1f, conceding lumps of weight to Kotkito Bello, who has won again since. Stepped into Grade 2 company next time in the Grade 2 Defender Novice at Limerick, he was beaten only a head by Gordon Elliott’s Kazansky, a horse now set for Grade 1 company.

Notably, County Final opened 13/8 favourite that day and was uneasy in the market, suggesting the run may have been needed. Even so, he shaped very well. He’s a half-brother to dual Grade 1 winner Champ Kiely, so there should be plenty of improvement in him.

Back in handicap company off 129, slightly up in trip and on ground that should suit, he makes strong betting appeal. As we’ve noted on the Final Furlong Podcast before, JP McManus runners often improve markedly on their second start in handicaps. It would be no surprise to see him sent off a well-backed favourite.

Of the others, Frankie John makes some appeal on handicap debut from 129, especially stepping up to 3m. Jalon d’Oudairies may not be quite the force he once looked in bumpers, but he was still good enough to beat him at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Tried in Grade 1 company next time and sent off at big odds, he was outclassed by I’ll Sort That. Now dropped in grade and up in trip, he becomes more interesting back in calmer waters.

2:55 Leopardstown

Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Another race Willie Mullins has farmed, winning seven of the last ten runnings, but the favourite is Gordon Elliott’s Romeo Coolio, who is seeking his third consecutive Grade 1 win over fences after victories at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown over Christmas.

He looked in need of a step up in trip that day, only just getting the better of Irish Panther.

The Harty-trained runner has also improved over fences, but he was beaten over 7 lengths off a mark of 128 carrying 9-11 in the County Hurdle by Kargese, who was rated 141 and carrying 11-3. On their hurdles form, she would have a big chance of beating the favourite.

She got within 1¼ lengths of Golden Ace in the Grade 1 Boodles Champion Hurdle and was an impressive winner of a beginners’ chase over course and distance at Leopardstown over Christmas. She beat the race-fit Lovely Hurling by 14 lengths that day, and that one was 13 lengths behind her stablemate Kopek Des Bordes, who clearly has huge potential.

Romeo Coolio sets the standard, but he may be worth taking on with Kargese.

4:40 Leopardstown

DRF Future Stars (C & G) I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2), 2m

Martin Brassil looks to have a very exciting prospect in It’s Only A Game.

Second to subsequent maiden hurdle winner Vitorio Piel at the Punchestown Festival, he returned to win the Jimmy Hayes Memorial Bumper at the same track on John Durkan day. Sent off a well-backed favourite, he was stuck for room on the rail but, once in the clear two furlongs out, showed a smart turn of foot to win by 3½ lengths. Runner-up Boycetown won a bumper by 18 lengths on his next start.

Charismatic Kid must be respected on his first start for Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud. He had the run of the race when making a winning debut for Colm Ryan, who has had only three runners all season. He was a strong 4/1 joint-second favourite behind a Gigginstown and Elliott runner who has subsequently won.

He could improve significantly, and it’s interesting that Gordon chooses to run him in a race he last won with Envoi Allen, who went on to win the Champion Bumper.

But It’s Only A Game looks to have the credentials to be a leading player for the Cheltenham equivalent.

Sunday

1:10 Leopardstown

Novice Chase (Grade 1), 2m5½f

Willie Mullins has won this six times in the last ten years, including with Galopin Des Champs, Fact To File, Ballyburn, Monkfish and Faugheen.

Final Demand was described as one of the most impressive chase debut winners when beating Wingman by 13 lengths at Navan. He then beat stablemate Gold Dancer by 8 lengths when stepped up to Grade 1 company in the Faugheen Novice Chase, though not everyone was convinced by the manner of the victory.

That said, he was hugely impressive over hurdles at this meeting a year ago and, if he wins this as expected, he will be a red-hot favourite for the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham. Still, it may be worth taking him on with one of his stablemates.

Wingman has since been beaten by wide margins by two other Mullins runners, Predators Gold and Kaid d’Authie, and it’s the latter who intrigues me most.

Second on chase debut to stablemate Kitzbuhel, who subsequently won the Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton, he looked like there was plenty of improvement to come when beating Wingman by 10 lengths.

Lucky Lyreen, fifth and beaten 41½ lengths, won next time, while Joystick, who finished sixth and was 64 lengths behind, has since beaten Supreme winner Slate Steel.

Described by Mullins as a Grade 1 horse earlier in his career, Kaid d’Authie could now be starting to fulfil that potential and may give Final Demand something to think about.

2:10 Leopardstown

Dublin Chase (Grade 1), 2m1f

As I type, the rain continues to fall, and that will be music to the ears of Majborough backers. He has been backed into 6/4 favourite and is unbeaten in two starts on heavy ground.

Leopardstown drains quickly, so conditions could change, but it’s hard to imagine anything better than soft ground. That would favour Majborough and inconvenience rivals Marine Nationale and possibly Solness.

This could be the race where Majborough comes into his own and keeps alive the dream of giving JP McManus his first Queen Mother Champion Chase success.

Found A Fifty and even 12-year-old Energumene become interesting at double-figure odds on heavy, but this looks a huge opportunity for Majborough.

2:45 Leopardstown

O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Kim Roque shaped much better than the bare result when fourth in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham and the form has worked out strongly.

Runner-up Vincenzo has since won at Ascot off 140, Jagwar was beaten only a head off 149, and sixth Imperial Saint landed the Peter Marsh off 141. Considering Kim Roque raced 3lb out of the handicap and was not ideally positioned, the run can be upgraded.

Still only six and with just five chase starts, he remains open to improvement. A mark of 128 looks exploitable for Joseph O’Brien.

Backmersackme has winning form on soft and shaped well when chasing home Three Card Brag at Cheltenham, a horse who subsequently finished second in the Hennessy. He disappointed last time but still went off fourth favourite, suggesting connections retain faith. Off 125 and rated the second-highest by Timeform, he’s not one to dismiss.

3:20 Leopardstown

Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m

Lossiemouth was sent off odds-on in this race last year despite Townend choosing State Man. She took a heavy fall four out and was later diverted to the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Brighterdaysahead is entitled to improve from her seasonal debut behind Lossiemouth and could benefit from more forceful tactics. However, Lossiemouth still looked the superior mare and may confirm that form.

Whether that’s enough to win this is another question. The division is wide open.

Anzadam’s Fighting Fifth form has worked out well, while Golden Ace and others bring strong collateral lines. El Fabiolo’s form has been boosted too, and Ballyburn is particularly intriguing.

He went close in the Hatton’s Grace on his return and could be seen to better effect if allowed to make the running. If ridden by Danny Mullins, he could cause a shock. His only Leopardstown defeat came when a disappointing favourite behind Teahupoo at Christmas, and several Mullins runners underperformed at that meeting.

The official handicapper makes him the highest-rated runner, and he ranks highly on both Timeform and RPR. Giving weight to the mares won’t be easy, but neither looks unbeatable. At a double-figure price with 1xBet Ireland, Ballyburn could be worth backing.

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The analytical piece was prepared by Emmet Kennedy — Presenter, Producer, and Owner of The Final Furlong Podcast, Broadcaster with TalkSPORT, and Broadcast Consultant —  with the support of 1xBet Ireland.

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