The Dublin Racing Festival takes place this weekend behind closed doors but with the eyes of the racing world tuned in via RTÉ and ITV.
There are eight Grade One races, the highest level of jump racing and eleven races in total will be broadcast on RTÉ2 across Saturday and Sunday.
Many of the winners and a significant number of those who run behind them will go on to take centre stage at Cheltenham in March but for now, this is an end in itself with €2.1 million available in prize money.
Chacun Pour Soi, pictured above, has been hailed by trainer Willie Mullins as one of the best horses he has ever trained. He will put his big reputation on the line in the Ladbrokes Dublin Steeplechase at 1-35 PM on Saturday.
The feature race on Day One is the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle with the unbeaten Honeysuckle looking to make it ten wins out of ten for trainer Henry De Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore.
On Sunday the focus will be on the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup where five horses go to post but every one of them has a chance to win.
If The Shawshank redemption is one of your favourite movies you might fancy a little double with Andy Dufresne in the 3-10 on Sunday and Sneaky Getaway in the race before.
“The declarations for the opening day of Dublin Racing Festival are fantastic,” said Leopardstown CEO Tim Husbands.
“It will be an exciting and competitive afternoon of racing. We are grateful to the owners and trainers for their support, especially in the current challenging times.”
Others to take part in sponsorship over the weekend include William Fry, Ladbrokes, Matheson, Goffs, Tattersalls, Nathaniel Lacy and Partners, Flogas and Gaelic Plant Hire.
Leopardstown has also partnered with Taste of Dublin to provide a Tasting menu of Dublin’s most famous recipes and a selection of craft beers that will be delivered to your door in time for the afternoon of racing.
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