The early entries for the eight Grade 1 races at the Dublin Racing Festival have underlined why the late-January meeting at Leopardstown Racecourse has become one of the most commercially powerful and sportingly significant weekends in Irish racing.
Taking place on Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1, the 2026 renewal once again blends elite competition with a sponsorship portfolio that reflects the Festival’s stature as a premium racing and entertainment property.
Since launching in 2018, the Dublin Racing Festival has evolved into a must-attend date for Irish and British National Hunt fans, while also offering brands an opportunity to align with quality, scale and narrative-driven sport.
Leopardstown chief executive Mark Clayton said the entries point to “scores to settle” across the programme, with rematches from the Christmas Festival running through almost every Grade 1.
With more than €2 million in prize money across 15 races, and its role as a key stepping stone to Cheltenham, the Festival continues to deliver a compelling sporting proposition for partners and audiences alike.
Saturday
The opening day is anchored by the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, a flagship contest that underlines the Festival’s long-standing relationship with one of racing’s most recognisable betting brands.
Defending Champion Galopin Des Champs heads the entries, with Willie Mullins responsible for nine of the 20 potential runners, reinforcing the depth and predictability of elite participation that sponsors value.
The Grade 1 Goffs Irish Arkle highlights the Festival’s alignment with the bloodstock industry, while the Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle reflects the increasingly important role of indigenous Irish businesses in backing top-tier racing assets.
Opening the weekend is the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle, a race that demonstrates how professional services firms continue to see value in association with the credibility and reach of Grade 1 National Hunt racing.
Together, Saturday’s programme showcases a broad sponsorship mix spanning betting, bloodstock, legal services and environmental enterprise.
Sunday
Sunday’s card continues that momentum, led by the Irish Champion Hurdle and supported by two Grade 1 steeplechases carrying the Ladbrokes name.
The Ladbrokes Dublin Steeplechase and the Ladbrokes Novice Steeplechase are among the most anticipated races of the weekend, reinforcing how established international brands continue to invest in Irish racing’s biggest stages.
The closing Grade 1 on the card, the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle, further underlines the Festival’s integration with the breeding and sales sector, connecting elite performance on the track with the commercial ecosystem that underpins the sport.
Beyond the track
There will be course-wide entertainment, live music and immersive JockeyCam VR experiences to extend dwell time and broaden appeal beyond core racing fans, enhancing value for sponsors and hospitality clients.
Crucially, the Festival’s proven link to Cheltenham success, with seven DRF runners winning Grade 1 races there last year, strengthens its credibility and international relevance.
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