With this weekend’s big Leopardstown meeting another chance for punters to get more Cheltenham Festival clues, the bookies have priced up a number of Dublin Racing Festival betting specials to look out for.
When Is The Dublin Racing Festival 2026? 🇮🇪
🗓️DATE: Sat 31st Jan and Sun 1st Feb, 2026
🏟️COURSE: Leopardstown
📺TV: RTV and ITV Racing Schedule
Dublin Racing Betting Specials 2026: Leopardstown and Cheltenham Doubles To Get Stuck Into
FINAL DEMAND to Win Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Leopardstown) and Brown Advisory Novice Chase (Cheltenham) @ 13/8
The first 2026 Dublin Racing Festival betting special features the exciting Willie Mullins-trained novice chaser – FINAL DEMAND.
He landed the opening race at the meeting (Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle).
And despite running third in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham after, has returned this season switched to fences in winning form.
Final Demand bolted-up on his chasing debut at Navan in November and last time out (watch below) was even more impressive at Limerick when winning the Grade One Faugheen Novices’ Chase.
As a result, it’s no shock to see him as one of the many Willie Mullins Dublin Racing Festival bankers in 2026.
With his Leopardstown target the Ladbrokes Novice Chase on Sunday – a race Mullins has won a staggering 12 times, including last year with Ballyburn.
If Final Demand wins this, it will then be full steam ahead to the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, with Final Demand currently 5/4 for that day two Cheltenham Festival race.
He’s 13/8 to land both races.
MARINE NATIONALE To Win Dublin Chase (Leopardstown) and Champion Chase (Cheltenham) @ 3/1
With Il Etait Temps running flat in the Clarence House Chase recently, this has seen last season’s Queen Mother Champion Chase winner MARINE NATIONALE shorten up into 6/4 for that Cheltenham Festival race.
But first up for Marine Nationale is a trip to Leopardstown on Sunday, where he’s well-fancied for the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase.
However, he was beaten into second last year by Solness, who also beat Marine Nationale over Christmas at Leopardstown.
So, it might not all be plain sailing for the Barry McConnell star chaser.
That said, he ran a blinder to only lose by 1/2 a length the last day, having almost unseated his jockey Sean Flanagan earlier in the race.
While he’s also, sure to improve for that spin – seeing as it was his first outing since April.
If you fancy Marine Nationale to win at Leopardstown and also defend his Champion Chase title, you’ll be rewarded at around 3/1.
KOPEK DES BORDES To Win Irish Arkle Chase (Leopardstown) and Arkle Chase (Cheltenham) @ 9/2
Another horse that won at last season’s DRF was KOPEK DES BOARDES who landed the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle by 13 lengths.
He later added the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and now switched to chasing will be looking for another unique Leopardstown/Cheltenham double.
This time in the Irish Arkle Novices’ Chase, which will be run on Saturday 31st January. Where he could take on Romeo Coolio and stablemate Kargese.
Kopek impressed on his chase at Navan in the middle of November (watch below) and many are tipping him to go to the very top over fences.
With the Dublin Racing Festival betting special seeing him at 9/2 to win both Arkle Novices’ Chases.
Trainer Willie Mullins will also be looking for his twelfth Irish Arkle win.
LOSSIEMOUTH To Win Irish Champion Hurdle (Leopardstown) and Champion Hurdle (Cheltenham) @ 5/1
It was heartbreak for LOSSIEMOUTH backers at the DRF last season – when she fell about midway in the Irish Champion Hurdle.
With the race eventually being won by State Man.
However, with last year’s winner on the sidelines, Lossiemouth is back to make amends on Sunday 1st February.
She’ll take on old rival and fellow mare Brighterdaysahead in what will give punters many clues ahead of the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Where, as a result, of Sir Gino’s injury last weekend, Lossiemouth was cut into Cheltenham favourite for the Champion Hurdle.
With many suggesting with no Gino, Lossiemouth will now head to the day one showcase race.
However, it’s still a guessing game as she’s, of course, won the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham for the past two seasons and could easily head to that race for a third time.
Mullins will be looking for a tenth Irish Champion Hurdle win.
LOSSIEMOUTH To Win Irish Champion Hurdle (Leopardstown) and Mares’ Hurdle (Cheltenham) @ 5/1
Then, following on from the previous Lossiemouth Dublin Racing Festival betting special – she’s also 5/1 to win the Irish Champion Hurdle and the Mares’ Hurdle again.
As mentioned, LOSSIEMOUTH has mopped up two Mares’ Hurdles in her career at the Cheltenham Festival and also won the Triumph Hurdle in 2023.
Lossiemouth also won the International Hurdle at Prestbury Park in January 2024.
Meaning whichever race she ends up in – she’ll be bringing a four-from-four unbeaten Cheltenham record to the table in March.
NARCISO HAS to win the Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle (Leopardstown) and Triumph Hurdle (Cheltenham) @ 11/2
Saturday’s Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown has produced two winners of the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham since 2021.
With both Quilixios (2021) and Vauban (2022) winning both races.
The bookies are suggesting we could see another this year too, with the exciting Willie Mullins-trained NARCISO HAS high up the betting for both races and 11/2 to do the double.
This JP McManus-owned 4yo was last seen running away with the G2 Changing Times Brewery Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.
And, as a result, has shot into favourite for the Triumph Hurdle on Friday 13th March at Cheltenham.
Before that though, is a date in the Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle on Saturday – a race Willie Mullins has won three times in the last four years.
Including in 2022 with Vauban, who also went onto take the Triumph Hurdle.
Note: All odds shown on this page are subject to change
