Last Updated on 30/01/2026 by Andy Clark
Day 1 of the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown offers a thrilling mix of Grade 1 action, competitive handicaps and exciting novice contests. Our expert tipster has written a preview and betting tip for each of Saturday’s races.
Our Dublin Racing Festival tips are compiled with an eye on form, trainer patterns, horse fitness and recent Leopardstown trends. From our Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Novice Hurdle tip through to the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup tip, where Galopin Des Champs will be looking to make history, we’ll take you through every race on Saturday 31st January at Leopardstown with our DRF day 1 preview and predictions. Along the way, we also highlight key trends that might help you spot value bets — for example, winners in certain handicap chases have tended to fit specific age and form profiles in recent years.
Whether you’re placing straight win bets, each‑way wagers or building accumulators, our preview will help you navigate the card and make the most of your betting experience at one of Ireland’s premier National Hunt meetings. You should also check out the latest Dublin Racing Festival free bet offers for 2026, 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 this weekend – new customers get a £40 free bet for the Dublin Racing Festival, and 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 across Saturday and Sunday.
Dublin Racing Festival Saturday Tips
1.15pm Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle Tip
There are a few short-priced favourites who I think will win over the weekend, but I don’t think 1 of them will be in the opener. I’m happy to take the favourite, Doctor Steinberg, on here; he is far too short for my liking. His form is grand but nothing more, and even though that form was franked last weekend (Thedeviluno at Doncaster), he still has to justify the short price on the track.
Preference is for KAZANSKY, who is 2/2 this season when completing (in the other start, he was brought down when running well) the course. The form of his last run will get a test today (see race 3), but it’s form I’m reading as good. That was over 2m7f on Limerick heavy at Christmas, which takes some getting. So the 2m6f here on what (on the hurdles track) seems like being bottomless, won’t be an issue. He has also run over 2m this season (something which Elliott has done a few times with his stayers), which I like as he should have a bit of tactical speed about him too.
No future target screams handicap to me, so he’ll be one of the ones trying, and I think he has a great EW chance.
Bet Recommendation: Back Kazansky EW 5/1 William Hill (3 places)
1.50pm Gannon’s City Recovery and Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle Tip
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I love juvenile races and am a sucker for expensive recruits from France, and we have plenty on show here. Unlike the first race, I can really get on board with the favourite in this. Narciso Has is a beautiful horse who sits at the top of the Triumph Hurdle betting on day 4 of the Cheltenham Festival due to his impressive performance over Christmas. He improved for his first run, and if he were to improve agai,n then he’s the most likely winner. He could be very good.
The ones in behind him aren’t a bad bunch, though. MANGE TOUT lowered the colours of the favourite on his hurdles debut, and shes back for round 2. She skipped the Christmas period and comes here fresh and is also better off at the weights now than when she was getting the better of her rival in Fairyhouse in November. She gets another 4lb today, and that could be crucial.
Only 7 go to post so it’s difficult for punters to get stuck into one, Each Way. Narciso Has is definitely the most likely winner, but at odds on, I’m looking at an alternative winning price.
I wouldn’t put anyone off backing Mange Tout on the nose, but I’m happy to take the 11/10 w/o Narciso Has as a safer bet and also a better value than the fav winning.
Bet Recommendation: Back Mange Tout (without Narciso Has) 11/10 William Hill.
2.25pm Race and Stay at Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle Tip
A competitive 24-runner handicap to get stuck into here, but my eyes are drawn to the top of the market.
After liking Kazansky in the 1st, ill be backing COUNTY FINAL here. He’s short enough now after being well backed since declarations, but I think he can justify that short price and take this. I liked his run on Boxing Day, and I believe conditions will be perfect for him to go one better this time. Mark Walsh takes the ride for the 1st time and hes chosen him over the other JP runner in the race (who I believe is his main danger).
Bet Recommendation: Back County Final EW 11/2 Ladbrokes (5 places).
2.55pm Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Steeplechase Tip
Somewhat of an anti-climax here with just the 3 confirmed to run. Willie Mullins was playing a game of Okey Dokey for a few minutes on Thursday morning as he originally declared Kopek Des Bordes, before removing him again and sending racing Twitter into meltdown. The consequence is that the race is now a lot weaker, and we miss out on a clash we were desperate to see.
ROMEO COOLIO seems the one who is going to benefit the most from the defection and should go into the race as the clear favourite. He was workmanlike when getting the job done over C&D at Christmas, but has bundles of ability and should score again here. The soft ground will suit him here as he needed every yard of the 2m1f when getting the better of Irish Panther last time out.
I would say he would be vulnerable on better ground over the trip to the speedy mare Kargese. She also holds plenty of ability and will make this a race. Given the conditions of the race and what we have seen over fences so far, ill be siding with the KTDA team and backing Romeo Coolio
Bet Recommendation: Back Romeo Coolio 8/15 (All)
3.30pm Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Tip
If the previous race is an anti-climax, then the Irish Gold Cup is anything but. An outstanding field of 13 goes to post, and you could make a case for each. A plethora of stars who have won Gold Cups, Ryanairs, Arkles, Grand Nationals, Albert Bartletts and Brown Advisorys. It would be difficult to rule any of them out based on their best performances previously.
I’m going with the head and the heart by saying I hope and think GALOPIN DES CHAMPS wins and in doing so wins his 4th Irish Gold Cup. There’s lots of talk of horses finding it harder in Grade 1s when they reach the age of 10, but I think this horse is special and can defy that. He missed his original season opening in the John Durkan but ran well in the Savills at Christmas, and you would think he would come on and be primed for today.
It’s a deep field, and he is not a huge price, but he has his conditions, and this is his playing field. I hope the house comes down when he crosses the line.
Willie Mullins has a strong hand in this, but I’ll be leaving his next 2 in the betting alone. I don’t think this is Fact to File’s day, and with Gaelic Warrior underperforming at Leopardstown on a few occasions, today is also not his day.
I will be throwing a dart at the fast-improving mare SPINDLEBERRY (ew) for my Dublin Racing Festival day 1 each-way tip, who has a load of 1’s next to her name and quite frankly, could be anything. She is in far deeper water today and still has a lot to prove and find on ratings, but I’m willing to take my chance. She can perform on soft ground and also showed last time she can go left-handed. Willie hasn’t been so convinced she can dine at the top table (it’s been the owner pushing her to compete in better races), but I believe she can rise to the occasion and show her ability. She’ll need to run a career best, but I think shes every chance of doing so, and I’m happy to take 10/1 to find out.
Bet Recommendation: Back Galopin Des Champs at 13/8 with William Hill.
Back Spindleberry EW 10/1 Ladbrokes (3 places).
4.05pm Barberstown Castle Handicap Steeplechase Tip
A wide-open 14-runner handicap is up next, and I’ll be taking a stab at one further down the betting in this one. I think the 2m handicap chase division in Ireland is pretty weak, and I don’t think there’s anything unexposed or classy lining up in this field.
Preference is with AN PEANN DEARG and with bet365 a standout 18/1, he’s worth taking a chance on. His last 4 runs haven’t been anything to shout about, but I’m guessing this has been the plan all season, following winning the same race last season. Trainer Paul Nolan and jockey Sean O’Keeffe come here after a double in the UK last Saturday, and I’m hoping they can get on the board again. He’s 6lbs higher than winning this 12 months ago but im hoping experience and the love of this C&D can get him over the line again.
Bet Recommendation: Back An Peann Dearg EW 18/1 Bet365 (5 places)
4.35pm DRF INH Flat Race Tip
A small field of 7 concludes the card in the bumper, and it’s a surprise to see no Willie Mullins horse declared. I think the winner comes from the top 2 in the market, and a slight preference is for the Martin Brassil-trained ITS ONLY A GAME. He has been backed for the Champion Bumper this week, and I think he can win this and really stamp his claim for March. He went through the soft ground at Punchestown when winning on his only start this season in November, so conditions shouldn’t be too testing for him and hes the one I’m siding with.
Bet Recommendation: Back It’s Only A Game at 13/8 Bet365.
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Adam O’Brien is a seasoned horse racing tipster with a particular focus on Cheltenham Festival ante-post betting. With years of experience analysing form, trainer patterns, and festival trends, Adam provides expert insights to help punters navigate the high-stakes world of National Hunt racing. Known for his clear, practical advice and knack for spotting value in early markets, he has built a reputation among both casual punters and serious Festival followers.
