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Dublin Racing Festival Key Races, Stats & History

Flag of Dublin

The Irish horse racing scene celebrates one of its newest members in the form of the Dublin Racing Festival. Whilst it’s only been around since 2018, the event now attracts tens of thousands of race goers from around Europe in what’s a mightily impressive display of racing.

The fact that the festival is held within the party city of Dublin has likely paid dividends in the popularity of the event. Even though it’s only been running for a short period of time, it includes 8 Grade 1 races over the two-day festival and with over €2 million in prize money.

Whilst the festival in its current form is new, its actually an amalgamation of several meetings that were held throughout the months of January and February at the Leopardstown racetrack. The major races from these meetings have been merged into one to create a single “super meeting” instead.

The calibre of racing is second to none and would stand brilliantly on its own as one of the best weekends of racing in the calendar. But the Dublin Racing Festival is actually a very important part of the jumps season as it works as a vital pre-Cheltenham meeting. This allows trainers, jockeys and punters a first look at a host of horses that may run well at the Cheltenham Festival.

  • In This Article:
  • Major Races
  • Course
  • Festival Breakdown
  • History

Dublin Racing Festival Major Races

The first weekend in February brings one of Ireland’s biggest National Hunt meetings in the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown. The Irish Gold Cup on Saturday and the Irish Champion Hurdle on Sunday are two huge races in their own right and also provide some major pointers for their Cheltenham equivalents the following month.

Day Race Grade / Length Last Winner
Saturday Irish Gold Cup Grade 1 / 3m ½f Galopin Des Champs (2025)
Sunday Irish Champion Hurdle Grade 1 / 2m State Man (2025)

Leopardstown Racecourse

Horse on Track at Leopardstown Racecourse
William Murphy, flickr

Leopardstown has been the backdrop to a host of memorable races over the years and the fact that it is situated just 8km south of Dublin’s city centre, means that it’s as much a tourist attraction as it is a racecourse.

The course is open all year round and is as well known for flat racing as it is National Hunt racing. They are able to boast Group and Graded races throughout the year and the volume of visitors seem to keep up come rain or shine.

Most Irish racecourses are usually modelled on successful racetracks from England, given that they are usually younger than their English counterparts. Leopardstown is no different and is actually a copy of the Sandown Park Racecourse. Racing on the site has been taking place since 1888 and the site enjoys around 22 meetings per year.

A unique feature for the track is that it includes a golf course and club house within the centre of the track. It also has shops, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, pubs and a host of snack areas to keep the punters entertained on race days. They’ve even hosted a number of bands at the venue such as The Human League, Johnny Marr and The Boomtown Rats.

Festival Breakdown

As already stated, the festival takes place over two days, which are usually in the first weekend of February. In terms of prize money, well the figure keeps on rising as the stock of the festival keeps on increasing, standing at €2.15 million in 2025.

Chart Showing the Dublin Racing Festival Race Prize Funds in 2025

The festival is actually quite unique in that it has races on a Saturday and a Sunday and there are usually very few meetings that take place on a Sunday, especially high profile ones. The thinking was to move with the times a little more by organisers and take advantage of a weekend where more people and families can attend, rather than through the week, where people are often at work.

Day 1 Races on Saturday (2025)

Time Race Grade / Length
13:15 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Novice Hurdle Grade 1 / 2m 6f
13:50 Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle Grade 1 / 2m
14:25 Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle Listed / 3m
14:55 Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase Grade 1 / 2m 1f
15:30 Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Grade 1 / 3m ½f
16:05 Ryanair Handicap Chase Listed / 2m 1f
16:35 Future Stars I.N.H. Flat Race Grade 2 / 2m

Spring Juvenile Hurdle

The second Grade 1 race at the festival comes in the form of the Spring Juvenile Hurdle. The race has been running since 1994 and is over a distance of two miles. It is restricted to four year old horses only and is a feeder for races such as the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Notable winners include Commanche Court, Guitar Pete, Our Conor, Footpad and Vauban. Talented young hurdler Sir Erec also won this before tragically suffering a fatal injury at the following Triumph Hurdle.

Irish Arkle Chase

A race that is named after probably the greatest jumps racehorse of all time, the Arkle Chase provides another Grade 1 race at the festival. The race is famously named after Arkle who won it in 1963 when known as the Milltown Novice Chase, with legendary jockey Pat Taaffe on board.

The race now is run over a distance of 2 miles and 1 furlong and is open to horses aged five and older. It involves eleven fences and is for novices. The race has been running since 1956 and is now linked to the Arkle Challenge Trophy that is run at Cheltenham. The most recent winner of both races is El Fabiolo in 2023. Other notable winners include Douvan, Un De Sceaux, Kicking King and of course, Arkle himself.

Irish Gold Cup

The Irish Gold Cup is undoubtedly the highlight of the Festival. It’s got heavy links with the Cheltenham Gold Cup and four horses have won both in the same year; Jodami in 1993, Imperial Call in 1996, Sizing John in 2017 and Galopin Des Champs in both 2023 and 2024.

The race has been running since 1987, so it’s certainly not the oldest at the festival. The name of the race has changed quite often as well, going from the Vincent O’Brien Irish Gold Cup, to the Hennessey Gold Cup and then has been named the Irish Gold Cup ever since. Recent sponsors are on board though they have kept the name as it is.

In terms of success, there will be little surprise to hear that legendary horse racing trainer Willie Mullins hast the most wins with thirteen in total. The most successful jockey is Mark Dwyer with four and the most successful horse is Florida Pearl, also with four wins.

Other notable winners include Sizing John, Kemboy, Beef Or Salmon, Imperial Call and Neptune Collonges.

Day 2 Races on Sunday (2025)

Time Race Grade / Length
12:40 Paddy And Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle Listed / 2m 2f
13:10 Ladbrokes Novice Chase Grade 1 / 2m 5½f
13:40 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle Grade 1 / 2m
14:10 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase Grade 1 / 2m 1f
14:45 O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase Grade 3 / 2m 5½f
15:20 Irish Champion Hurdle Grade 1 / 2m
15:50 Timeless Sash Windows Handicap Hurdle Listed / 2m
16:25 Coolmore N.H. Sires Luxembourg Irish EBF Mares I.N.H. Flat Race Grade 2 / 2m

Ladbrokes Novice Chase

The Ladbrokes Novice Chase is one of the Grade 1 races on the final day of the festival and has been running since 1989. It’s one that includes horses aged five years and older and given its higher age tag for the race meeting, it means that it’s also one of the longest races at festival, at 2 miles 5½ furlongs.

The race was upgraded from a Grade 2 to a Grade 1 in 2002. Even though the rating only increased then, it’s long been regarded as one of the best Novice Chases in Ireland and many quality horses have won previously, including Boston Bob, Florida Pearl, Dorans Pride, Faugheen and Galopin Des Champs.

Irish Champion Hurdle

The Irish Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 race that takes place on the second day of the Dublin Racing Festival. It’s been run since 1950 and is one of the oldest races at the meeting. It’s run over 2 miles and includes eight fences to be jumped by the field that consists of horses aged four and older.

The race runs parallel in stature with the Punchestown Champion Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle that takes place at Cheltenham Festival. Some of the recent winners of both the Leopardstown version and the Cheltenham race are Hurricane Fly, Faugheen, Honeysuckle and State Man.

This has been won by some of the best hurdlers to have ever raced. These include the likes of Sizing Europe, Brave Inca, Istabraq and Dawn Run, to name just a few.

Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle

This Novices Hurdle is another fascinating race at the festival and takes place as part of the Sunday celebrations. The race has been running since 1987 and is one of the older races that’s run on that day.

Given that the horses take on the 2 mile circuit at Leopardstown, it means that it works as a link to the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle that is run at Cheltenham Festival. In fact, winners of both races have include that Like-A-Butterfly, Brave Inca, Champagne Fever, Vautour, Klassical Dream and Appreciate It.

Paul Carberry is the most successful jockey in the race with six wins in total and Willie Mullins is once again the top trainer, with twelve wins.

History

College Green in Dublin Circa 1890
National Library of Ireland, flickr

The racecourse was originally founded and then constructed by Captain George Quin in 1888. It was thought that Quin was a huge fan of the Sandown racecourse in England and then decided to create the course based on a blueprint of that layout.

It wasn’t until 1967 when the Horse Racing Board of Ireland bought the racecourse and really started to modernise it, something that had been neglected for many years. The layout of the track had left enough land for Captain Quin to create a golf course in the middle and this was something that the Horse Racing Board of Ireland were keen to keep on board, given how iconic it has now become.

Another aspect that the course is famed for is their relaxed attitude when it comes to dress code. They set the trend when it comes to what to wear and you’re able to get into the course wearing pretty much whatever you feel comfortable in, although they do encourage smart casual in the hospitality areas.

Florida Pearl

Florida Pearl is one Ireland’s most loved and also decorated race horses. He went on to win four Irish Gold Cups but interestingly was never able to carry this form over to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, despite running several times there.

Florida Pearl’s Race Wins

Date Race Grade Course Odds
8/2/2004 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Grade 1 Leopardstown 5/1
18/1/2004 Normans Grove Chase Grade 3 Fairyhouse 8/1
24/4/2002 Heineken Gold Cup Grade 1 Punchestown 13/8 F
4/4/2002 Martell Cup Chase Grade 2 Aintree 5/2
26/12/2001 King George VI Chase Grade 1 Kempton 8/1
9/12/2001 John Durkan Memorial Chase Grade 1 Punchestown 5/1
4/2/2001 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Grade 1 Leopardstown Grade 1
6/2/2000 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Grade 1 Leopardstown 8/11 F
23/1/2000 BAX Global Handicap Chase Listed Leopardstown 2/5 F
6/11/1999 James Nicholson Wine Champion Chase – Down Royal 11/10 F
7/2/1999 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Grade 1 Leopardstown 8/15 F
18/3/1998 Royal & Sunalliance Chase Grade 1 Cheltenham 11/8 F
8/2/1998 Dr P.J. Moriarty Nov’ Chase Grade 2 Leopardstown 8/11 F
29/12/1997 Farming Independent Beginners Chase – Leopardstown Evs F
12/3/1997 Weatherbys Champion Bumper Grade 1 Cheltenham 6/1
26/12/1996 Ballyfree I.N.H. Flat Race – Leopardstown 6/4 F

The horse was a beast though and has won several major races including Champion Bumper, Royal and Sun Alliance Chase, Hennessey (Irish) Gold Cup, John Durkan Memorial Chase, King George VI Chase, Aintree Bowl and the Normans Grove Chase, to name just a few.

Training out of the Willie Mullins yard, Florida Pearl went on to win over £880,000 in prize money and won 16 from his 33 starts.

Hurricane Fly

In terms of iconic and loved horses, they don’t get much bigger than Hurricane Fly. The Irish horse saw success around the world and as a result, managed to earn a staggering £1.88 million in prizemoney throughout his career.

There’s very little that he didn’t win over the years, but some of highlights have to include the Champion Hurdle, Punchestown Champion Hurdle, Prix de Longchamp Hurdle, Royal Bond Novice Hurdle and of course, his record five Irish Champion Hurdle victories on a course that he loved so much in Leopardstown.

Hurricane Fly’s Race Wins

Date Race Grade Course Odds
25/1/2015 BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle Grade 1 Leopardstown 11/10 F
29/12/2014 Ryanair Hurdle Grade 1 Leopardstown 5/6 F
16/11/2014 Stan James Morgiana Hurdle Grade 1 Punchestown 15/8
26/1/2014 BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle Grade 1 Leopardstown 4/7 F
29/12/2013 Ryanair Hurdle Grade 1 Leopardstown 11/10 F
17/11/2013 Stan James Morgiana Hurdle Grade 1 Punchestown 1/16 F
26/4/2013 Rabobank Champion Hurdle Grade 1 Punchestown 1/4 F
12/3/2013 Stan James Champion Hurdle Grade 1 Cheltenham 13/8 F
27/1/2013 BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle Grade 1 Leopardstown 1/6 F
29/12/2012 Istabraq Festival Hurdle Grade 1 Leopardstown 1/5 F
18/11/2012 Dobbins & Madigans Morgiana Hurdle Grade 1 Punchestown 2/5 F
27/4/2012 Rabobank Champion Hurdle Grade 1 Punchestown 4/11 F
29/1/2012 BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle Grade 1 Leopardstown 4/5 F
6/5/2011 Rabobank Champion Hurdle Grade 1 Punchestown 1/2 F
15/3/2011 Stan James Champion Hurdle Grade 1 Cheltenham 11/4 F
23/1/2011 BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle Grade 1 Leopardstown 4/9 F
29/12/2010 Paddy Power Festival Hurdle Grade 1 Leopardstown 8/11 F
15/12/2010 Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle Grade 1 Fairyhouse 11/4
23/4/2010 Rabobank Champion Hurdle Grade 1 Punchestown 3/1
28/4/2009 Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle Grade 1 Punchestown 4/6 F
27/12/2008 Future Champion Novice Hurdle Grade 1 Leopardstown Evens F
30/11/2008 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle Grade 1 Fairyhouse 2/1 F
25/5/2008 Gras Savoye Prix de Longchamp Grade 3 Auteuil 21/10
7/5/2008 Punchestown Maiden Hurdle – Punchestown 9/10 F
23/3/2007 Prix Omnium II Listed Saint-Cloud –
4/3/2007 Prix Achille Fould – Mont-De-Marsan –

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