There are fifteen top class races at Leopardstown racecourse this weekend, but of these – which horses are being given the tag of Dublin Racing Festival bankers and favourites 2025?
Dublin Racing Festival 2025: Two Days Of Top-Class Irish Jumps Racing at Leopardstown
Many people think the Dublin Racing Festival is one of the best jumping horse racing fixtures of the season and it’s hard to disagree with an array of National Hunt superstars on show.
There will be fifteen races over the two-day meeting as normal – with eight of these Grade One contests.
Plus, there will also be a stack of Cheltenham Festival clues to look out for with many horses set to be in action at Prestbury Park in the middle of March too.
As always the biggest jumping stables will be on show – including Wille Mullins, who mopped up nine of the Dublin Racing Festival races in 2024 and ALL of the eight Grade Ones.
Mullins is priced around 7/2 to win all eight and 10/11 to win seven or more.
Therefore, Punters will also be focusing on several Dublin Racing Festival bankers and favourites to try and get their weekend expenses paid for.
So, with that in mind, let’s look at which horses will be carrying the bulk of the money with the best betting sites at Leopardstown.
Dublin Racing Festival 2025 Date
📅Date: Saturday 1st Feb and Sunday 2nd Feb 2025
⌚Time: Sat 1:20pm-4:40pm, Sun 12:40pm-4:25pm
🏇Racecourse: Leopardstown, Dublin (Ireland)
See the full Dublin Racing Festival race times, running order and TV channels
Dublin Racing Festival Bankers and Favourites 2025: Galopin Des Champs and Majborough Head Big Leopardstown Fancies
Saturday 1st February 2025
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2:55 – Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) 2m1f RTV: MAJBOROUGH
Won the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season and has returned this campaign over fences as good as ever.
Impressed on his debut chase run when winning easily at Fairyhouse in the middle of December, beating Tullyhill by 6 1/2 lengths – and remains one of the big fancies along with Sir Gino for the Arkle Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
Trainer Willie Mullins has won the Irish Arkle 10 times.
Majborough’s main threat will come from another Mullins horse – Il Atlantique.
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3:30 – Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) 3m½f RTV: GALOPIN DES CHAMPS
The two-time Irish and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner that will be one of the big Dublin Racing Festival bankers on day one.
Galopin Des Champs returned this season to run third in the John Durkan Memorial Chase but went two places better over Christmas when romping away with the Savills Chase.
That win was his sixth success over fences at Leopardstown (unbeaten) and most horse racing fans are expecting that unbeaten record to remain intact, despite taking on his useful stablemate Fact To File for the third time this season.
He’s also trained by Willie Mullins, who has won the Irish Gold Cup 13 times.
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4:35 – Future Stars (C & G) I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2) (4-7yo) 2m RTV – KALYPSO’CHANCE
Trainer Gordon Elliott last won this race in 2019 with Envoi Allen and looks to have a solid chance of adding another with this Gigginstown House Stud-owned 5 year-old.
He’s unbeaten in his three career runs to date, one in a Point and the other two under rules in National Hunt Flat races at Punchestown and Navan last time out when beating Heads Up by 4 1/2 lengths.
Kalypso’chance also one of the leading fancies in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, so another win here will further enhance those claims.
A wager on the three Dublin Racing Festival bankers on day one will pay around 11/2.
Sunday 2nd February 2025
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1:10 – Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) 2m5½f RTV – BALLYBURN
Winner of the 2m Grade One Novice Hurdle at this meeting in 2024 and despite losing over fences at Kempton at Christmas will be another strong Dublin Racing Festival banker for 2025.
He clearly found the Kempton track too tight over the 2m against the speedier Sir Gino last time, so connections have been quick to up him back in trip here (2 m 5 1/2f). Prior to that run he’d won well over 2m3f at Punchestown on his chasing debut.
Ballyburn is also 2-from-2 here at Leopardstown (hurdles) and Willie Mullins has won this race 11 times. Including in four of the last five seasons.
His main threats will come from two other Mullins runners – Impaire Et Passe, who is 2-2 over fences, and Champ Kiely.
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2:10 – Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) 2m1f RTV – GAELIC WARRIOR
Only seven past runnings of the Dublin Chase – but a certain Willie Mullins has already racked up seven wins in the contest.
He’s hunting for number eight this year with Gaelic Warrior, who is owned by Rich Ricci, who also has a fine record in this race. Winning it five times.
Gaelic Warrior, who won the Arkle last season, is the current second favourite for the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, behind Jonbon. But needs to bounce back from being a well-beaten second in the Paddy’s Reward Club Chase over Christmas.
While having also got worked up in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at this meeting last year, this Dublin Racing banker does come with a few risks.
He’s now lost his last two runs at Leopardstown – so many question if the Dublin venue is to his liking.
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3:20 – Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+) 2m RTV – LOSSIEMOUTH
Okay, with the winner of the last two runnings – State Man – also in the race, then Lossiemouth to some might not be Dublin Racing Festival banker material.
However, with State Man being turned over twice this season, Lossiemouth certainly looks the more reliable at this stage.
Being a mare, she’ll also get a handy 7lbs from the males in the race and her 2 1/2 lengths second to Constitution Hill was franked recently with that horse winning the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham.
This was will also give punters many pointers for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
A win for Lossiemouth and connection may opt for the Champion Hurdle and another crack at Constitution Hill.
While a defeat and you feel they will revert back to the Mares’ Hurdle that she won last season.
A wager on the three Dublin Racing Festival bankers on day two will pay around 7/2.
