With the 2026 DRF on the horizon punters will be starting to look ahead to the Willie Mullins Dublin Racing Festival runners, and in particular his potential ‘BANKERS’.
So, with this in mind we’ve highlighted FOUR of the best Willie Mullins DRF hot-pots, which you can either dismiss, back individually – or plonk in a 10/1 ACCA.
Willie Mullins Dublin Racing Festival Runners and Bankers 2026
Over the two-day 2026 Dublin Racing Festival meeting at Leopardstown there will be 15 races for punters to get stuck into.
And based on recent years – it will be a huge shock if Willie Mullins isn’t winning at least five.
Having sent out seven last year and nine in 2024.
Some are also suggesting his chances at the fixture have been increased this season, with the Gordon Elliott form at the moment a little bit suspect.
Therefore, let’s look at FOUR of the main Willie Mullins Dublin Racing Festival runners.
Ones that the bookies will certainly NOT want to see all winning.
Back The FOUR Willie Mullins DRF Bankers in 10/1 Acca
Dublin Racing Festival – Saturday 31st January 2026 🗓️
NARCISO HAS: New Kid On The Block Puts Triumph Hurdle Credentials On The Line
This JP McManus-owned 4yo shot to the head of the Triumph Hurdle market at the Cheltenham Festival with an easy win at Leopardstown over Christmas.
That win came in the Grade Two Changing Times Brewery Juvenile Hurdle – bolting up by 11 lengths.
Next up is a trip to the Dublin Racing Festival for the Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle, which will be run on Saturday 31st January.
The layers are making Narciso Has odds-on to win again and if he can then his 4/1 Triumph Hurdle odds are also sure to vanish without trace.
- Leopardstown: Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle – 4/6
- Cheltenham Festival: Triumph Hurdle – 4/1
Note: All odd featured on this page are subject to change
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS: DRF Legend Eyes Fourth Irish Gold Cup Success
Galopin Des Champs needs no introduction.
He’s been a powerhouse staying chaser for the past five years – and he might not be finished yet.
Yes, he was beaten on his return run in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over the festive period, but that was his first run for eight months.
He’s also always been a horse that has tended to need a run back each season.
So, with that outing under his belt, it will be a brave punter that says he can’t win the Irish Gold Cup for a fourth time.
Galopin is now aged 10 and will be looking to become only the third double-figure aged Irish Gold Cup winner since 2007.
With Beef Or Salmon (11, 2007) and Carlingford Lough (10, 2016) the others.
But despite losing at Leopardstown last time (3rd), he still brings a formidable chase record at the track to the table.
Having run at the Dublin venue eight times over fences – winning seven.
If he can get back to winning ways he’ll have to conquer the Savills Chase winner Affordable Fury, but many feel with that run under his belt he can.
He’s also 6/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March – a race he’s won twice before but was runner-up in 2025.
Galopin will be hoping to become the first double-figure Gold Cup winner since Cool Dawn (1998) and the first to win back the race since Kauto Star did just that in 2009.
- Leopardstown: Irish Gold Cup – 5/4
- Cheltenham Festival: Gold Cup – 6/1
Note: All odd featured on this page are subject to change
Dublin Racing Festival – Sunday 1st February 2026 🗓️
FINAL DEMAND: Unbeaten Chaser All The Rage In Ladbrokes Novice Chase
Heading into Sunday, and if the day one Willie Mullins Dublin Racing Festival runners already mentioned have won – then the bookies will be starting to panic.
Why?
As next up is Final Demand – a horse that many feel is the ‘super Willie Mullins banker’ of the meeting.
His only career defeat came in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle (3rd) at the Cheltenham Festival last season.
But has been switched to chasing this term and has looked a natural and possible future Gold Cup winner in the making.
Final Demand will head to the DRF two-from-two over fences after facile wins.
The first at Navan and last time at Limerick (watch below), when taking the Faugheen Novice Chase.
Next up is the Ladbrokes Novice Chase. Which was a prize Ballyburn won last year.
And a pot Willie Mullins has won a massive 12 times – including five times in the last six.
A win here will then see him head to the 2026 Cheltenham Festival for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, where he’s already as short as 5/4.
- Leopardstown: Ladbrokes Novice Chase – 2/5
- Cheltenham Festival: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – 5/4
Note: All odd featured on this page are subject to change
LOSSIEMOUTH: Can She Bounce Back From Irish Champion Hurdle Fall Last Year?
The last of the so-called Willie Mullins Dublin Racing Festival runners with ‘banker’ status is Lossiemouth.
She’ll he heading to Sunday’s Irish Champion Hurdle to take on old rival Brighterdaysahead.
But with Lossiemouth having the measure of that Gordon Elliott mare at Leopardstown in the December Hurdle (watch below) – many will back her to confirm that form.
That win gave Lossiemouth a remarkable nine Grade One wins and has now won 13 of her 16 starts.
However, those against here at the DRF will point to her falling in the Irish Champion Hurdle last season when ridden by Danny Mullins.
But regular rider Paul Townend will be back in the plate at the DRF. Having won 11 times on the popular grey mare.
Willie Mullins will also be looking for his tenth Irish Champion Hurdle win.
Win, lose or draw at Leopardstown, it will then be off to the Cheltenham Festival, with the Mares Hurdle the expected route.
Lossiemouth is unbeaten at Prestbury Park with four wins (Unibet Hurdle, Triumph, Mares Hurdle x2).
And despite Woodhooh looking a big threat to her title, the two-time Mares Hurdle winner will be hard to topple come March.
Don’t forget the Mares’ Hurdle has now also been moved to the Thursday.
Which is also the same day as the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
- Leopardstown: Irish Champion Hurdle – 11/10
- Cheltenham Festival: Mares’ Hurdle – 7/4
- Cheltenham Festival: Champion Hurdle – 13/2
Note: All odd featured on this page are subject to change
When Is The Dublin Racing Festival? 🇮🇪
🗓️DATE: Sat 31st Jan and Sun 1st Feb, 2026
🏟️COURSE: Leopardstown
📺TV: RTV and ITV Racing Schedule
How Many Winner Did Willie Mullins Have at the DRF in 2025? 🏇
In 2024, Willie Mullins sent out a massive NINE DRF winners over the two-day meeting.
And even though he wasn’t able to match that in 2025 – twelve months ago, Willie Mullins still fired in SEVEN more.
Meaning in the last two seasons, the Willie Mullins Dublin Racing Festival runners have notched up 16 wins.
Last year his two-time Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs brought the house down after winning his third Irish Gold Cup.
While State Man also made it three.
Winning the Irish Champion Hurdle for a third time and giving Mullins a ninth success in the race (watch below).
Willie Mullins DRF Winners 2025
- Final Demand (Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle)
- Majborough (Irish Arkle Chase)
- Galopin Des Champs (Irish Gold Cup)
- Ballyburn (Ladbrokes Novice Chase)
- Kopek Des Bordes (Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle)
- State Man (Irish Champion Hurdle)
- Bambino Fever (Coolmore NH Sires Irish EBF Mares I.N.H Flat Race)
