Last Updated on 31/01/2026 by Andy Clark
The 2026 Dublin Racing Festival continues on Sunday 1st February, and our tipster Ciaran Murphy has picked out his DRF betting tips for each race on the Leopardstown Day 2 card.
We get underway at 12.40pm and eight races are on the bumper card, including four Grade 1 races, culminating in the Irish Champion Hurdle at 3.20pm, where Lossiemouth will be looking to regain her crown after falling last year.
Whether you’re placing straight win bets, each‑way wagers or building accumulators, our preview will help you navigate the Sunday card. You should also check out the latest Dublin Racing Festival free bet offers on Sunday, where there is over £400 available when you open a new betting account.
Before we get into the best bets, we recommend opening a new Boylesports account if you missed out yesterday – new customers get a £40 free bet for the Dublin Racing Festival. All customers will get best odds guaranteed on every Leopardstown race, and money back if your horse finishes second fo the SP favourite in any race on Sunday.
Dublin Racing Festival Sunday Tips
12.40pm Mares Handicap Hurdle
A race that was blown wide open at the declaration stage by the non-appearance of the shrewd’s choice, Only by Night. It is an extremely open handicap for mares, headed by British raider Siog Geal, whose run behind Nurse Susan last time out would give her leading claims. Shoda is another interesting runner, having her 3rd run over obstacles for Joseph O’Brien. However, a tentative selection is for the interesting combination of Ian Donoghue and Jack Kennedy with TRUE TESTIMONY (11/1). Ian Donoghue is developing a reputation for extremely clever campaigning, and he thought enough of this mare to send her over to Cheltenham for a handicap chase at the November meeting. She subsequently won her next start over fences and is now rated 129 over larger obstacles. Last time out, she reverted to hurdles over an inadequate 2-mile trip but still managed to place 5th and runs here off just 113. The 2m 2f trip on likely heavy ground should be ideal, and I hope she goes close.
1.10pm Novice Steeplechase
Plenty seemed underwhelmed by the run of Final Demand, and that performance did lack the spark of his debut win at Navan. However, we don’t know how much was left in the tank that day, and he won very easily over hurdles at this meeting last year. The only thing not to like here is the price, and at 2/5, I am not telling anyone what they don’t already know. We don’t know if Kaid Daurhie will be on a go-day (a kind way to say it), and he may have other targets down the line. In my ante-post preview of the Brown Advisory, I mentioned Western Fold, but that was at three times the price he is here, and to be honest, I would need that type of price to take a chance on a ground that won’t be ideal. I would forgive Jimmy De Seuil for his run last time, which was clearly too bad to be true, but even at his best, I don’t think he is a match for the favourite. It’s a watching brief for me here…no bet.
1.40pm Novice Hurdle
If the previous race looks relatively uncompetitive, the 2m novice hurdle is anything but. Talk the Talk heads the market after looking like winning a Grade 1 comfortably at the Christmas meeting, but he is priced here like he actually got the job done, and there is a battalion of Closutton horses ready to take him on. Townend opts for King Rasko Grey, and it’s easy to see why based on his run over Christmas at Limerick. I certainly wouldn’t put anyone off a bet for the Cheltenham Festival itself if you knew which of the two shorter races he would go for. I’m going to take a chance that there wasn’t much in it when Paul was making the choice and the market, therefore (at 3 times the price) has underestimated THE REVEREND (10/1), who himself could not have won his maiden at Cork much easier. A highly rated flat horse with good form on soft ground, for an owner who rarely misses and Harry Cobden in the plate. I would also keep an eye on the betting for Le Divin Enfant. At Christmas, when Willies were running under a cloud, he was one of the biggest drifters (2/1 out to 8/1) and for 90% of the race travelled powerfully before emptying like the market suggested he would. I’m not sure if the ground here will suit, but he is one I’m keeping onside going forward.
2.10pm Dublin Chase
The Dublin chase sees Marine Nationale try to fulfil his trainer’s supreme confidence and simply jump around and win, but the ground has to be a concern for the Champion Chaser. He is certainly better around Cheltenham than at Leopardstown, where he has failed to win on his last 4 outings. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t actually run. At the other end of the scale is Solness, who is an absolute course specialist, winning his last 3 Grade 1 chases over course and distance. However, the market hasn’t missed that, and he is short for me here at 11/4. I’m giving another chance to MAJBOROUGH (2/1), who, as everyone and their dog will tell you, has a serious engine. The concern, as always, is the jumping, but ground conditions may actually help in that regard. I am not sure what tactics will actually suit best, as he has made mistakes when being held up and when going on, but personally, I would love to see him go from the front here and just bowl along. We are certainly approaching the last chance saloon over this trip, but I retain the belief that he is capable of putting it all together and finally getting off the mark in open company.
2.45pm Leopardstown Steeplechase
The second competitive handicap of the day, this time over fences, and I’m taking two against the field here. Firstly, KANTURK KALENISI (9/1) will be popular after his eye-catching run in the Paddy Power at Christmas. He has run well in a few 3m handicap chases, travelling well without seeing out the trip, so I like the drop to 2m 5 here. Additionally, I am never afraid of siding with an apparent Gordon Elliot second string, and while Jack Kennedy has chosen to ride Dee Capo, at a more attractive weight of 10st 7, PRENDS GARDE A TOI (25/1) is partnered by Danny Gilligan who has a habit of being on the right one in this type of race. He is completely unexposed over fences and 2 starts ago, was an impressive winner on Heavy ground in his Beginners chase and runs here off just 133.
3.20pm Irish Champion Hurdle
In the main event of the day, LOSSIEMOUTH (5/4) attempts to surely stamp her ticket to the Champion Hurdle in March. I can never understand how she is seemingly not viewed as a Champion Hurdle horse in Closutton (albeit I have to accept that Willie and Paul Townend have a fair idea what they are talking about). It is only through the absence of State Man and Sir Gino that the Cheltenham Day 1 feature race is even a possibility in their eyes. To me, she has a perfect blend of speed, stamina and attitude, and despite many people expecting Brighterdaysahead to turn around the form on the basis that she will come on from the last run, there is nothing to suggest that Lossiemouth won’t also take a step forward. To me, she is just a superior mare. The biggest danger may, in fact, come from Anzadam, who has heavy ground form and who will surely benefit from his new partnership with Harry Cobden. However, if the champion mare is at her best, I think she wins here on the way to a Champion Hurdle in March.
3.50pm Handicap Hurdle
Its hard to believe that a champion bumper winner from just 3 years ago would be running in this handicap hurdle off just 124 but that’s what we have here with A DREAM TO SHARE (8/1). Mark Walsh got down to his lowest racing weight last (10st 2) to absolutely hack up in this race last year on McLaurey and aims to repeat that same trick this year. While not as progressive, a return to a track where he has won a Grade 1 bumper and on the flat must be a positive. The concern is that he is still a maiden over Hurdles but perhaps an application of cash here will see a better round of jumping. In opposition, we always have to take note when Paul Townend rides in a big handicap hurdle, especially when it is on a Grade 1 Winner. So Murcia is worth a market check, although I suspect she will be better on a sounder surface.
4.25pm Mares INH Flat Race
The weekend concludes with a mare’s bumper, which last year gave us the winner of the Cheltenham Champion Bumper in Bambino Fever. Celestial Tune heads the market after an impressive Cheltenham run last time out, but her 2nd to Bud Fox last year now isn’t quite reading as well with that horse failing to make an impact this year. BROSNA SHINE (11/2) achieved a RPR of 118 (8 higher than the favourite) for her win in Fairyhouse last time out and is taken to do the business here in a race that has a bad record for favourites.
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Ciaran Murphy is a seasoned horse racing analyst with a keen eye on the Cheltenham Festival ante-post markets. A passionate follower of National Hunt racing, he has spent years studying trends, form, and betting strategies to uncover value in novice hurdles, chases, and Championship races. Known for combining insightful analysis with practical betting advice, Ciaran provides readers with expert previews, tips, and market commentary to give them an edge ahead of every Cheltenham Festival.
