Caroline’s Dublin Racing Festival Racecard for Sunday 1st February 2026

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy And Maureen Mullins Mare Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 12.40
Cousin Kate
Denis Hogan’s Cousin Kate seems to be in a winning habit just now, so I’ll be happy to back her for the hat-trick. Now, it’s all going to be about who copes the best with this ground, which was unraceable on the hurdle course for Saturday’s scheduled card, but for me the going holds no fears for Cousin Kate. Wille Mullins’s May Call You Back looks well weighted and is another that can act in this deep ground, so makes my list too. Joseph O’Brien’s Carried With Love would be my each-way shout, she’s consistent and won’t mind this ground, but Cousin Kate gets my win vote.

Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Grade 1) 1.10
Final Demand
With a nod to our lovely Jaysella, who thought he’d be running last weekend, Final Demand lines up here the hottest favourite of the day. With good reason too, I can tell yuzz, as this is the most exciting novice chaser that Willie Mullins has had in the last four or five years. Only beaten the once in seven starts, to The New lion in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival back in March, he he was always going to make into a fencer, and has made the perfect beginning to this novice chasing campaign, going two from two. His last win in the Faugheen Novice Chase the last day was most impressive, though the field wasn’t the deepest, so this time I’d be thinking that stablemate Kaid D’authie would be the one to make it a race. Final Demand to dominate, as he gets ready for the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham next stop.

Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 1.40
King Rasko Grey
Well, Joseph O’Brien will be hoping for some redemption for Talk The Talk, who fell at the last here in the Future Champions Grade One at Christmas. Although you might argue that wasn’t as strong as this for a Grade One, I’m of the opinion you can only beat what is put in front of you, so Talk The Talk does look like having unfinished business back here at Leopardstown. But, Willie Mullins has almost totally dominated this race in recent times, only losing once in the last ten years, so I’ll be betting that winner’s coming from Closutton. Definitely a better model this season, King Rasko Grey can battle this one out with the prolific Ballyfad who has hit a winning streak for Gordon Elliott. Koktail Brut reportedly bled the last day, but does look a very generous each-way price if fully recovered, but King Rasko Grey is mine for the win.

Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (Grade 1) 2.10
Energumene (nb)
A real cracker for the Dublin Chase, but given these conditions I’ll chance my arm with Energumene for one last Grade One. It’s a fully packed field this I’ll tell you, and easy enough to make a case for Majborough, Solness or Energumene, but I cannot put Barry Connell’s Marine Nationale onto that list. This is not his ground, and I could see him being pulled out of this and going straight to Cheltenham, so time will tell if I’m right on that. Now then, to my mind Majborough still needs to brush up on his jumping, so it’s Solness, who beat Majborough into second in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase here the last day that would be the one Paul Townend needs to keep tabs on, if he can get Energumene to make the most of these favourable conditions. A veteran now, but does he have one more big race in him? I think he does!

O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2.45
Ile Atlantique
I can tell you, I’ve had Tony Bloom’s Ile Atlantique on my list for an age, but some day he’s going to win a big valuable race just like this. Maybe it is the thing to do, to drop him into a handicap, and with less emphasis on speed on this ground, I’m thinking that his jumping will hold up under Danny Mullins. There’s plenty to make a case for, but plenty with questions to answer, so I’ll not go through an exhaustive list here, and play it safe with a decent each-way chance. Ile Atlantique it is for me, to make the frame at least, now in handicap company.

Timeless Sash Windows Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 3.20
Lossiemouth (nap)
What a race is this, the Champion Hurdle! Last year’s most exciting breakthrough hurdler, Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead lines up next to Willie Mullins’s Lossiemouth, the winner of 9 Grade One’s no less. And just to add some spice into the mix, El Fabiolo returns for a spin over the hurdles, which is sure to make for an interesting race. But, my heart is with Lossiemouth, who I personally rate as one of the best mares in my lifetime, and I will tell you, she knows when she’s run a good race, just watch that wonderful intelligence about her when the crowds are surrounding her in the Winner’s enclosure. Now then, Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead is a magnificent animal, and the intriguing addition of El Fabiolo makes this a Champion Hurdle to savour. But it’s Lossiemouth for me, my heart says yes, but my head does too!

Padel At Leopardstown Golf Launching Spring 2026 Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 3.52
Bowensonfire
Another big field handicap, where there are too many to mention, so my gamble is on Gordon Elliott’s progressive Bowensonfire. Given Jack Kennedy’s tactics here the last day to hold him up, this is a race that could play into the hands of a late finisher, so with Gordon Elliott’s top jockey the one to watch just now, and a workable mark, Bowensonfire is easy to back. It has been Charles Byrnes I Started A Joke that has sat at the top of the markets this week, and his win at Punchestown the last day was impressive enough, so he is on my list along with Gavin Cromwell’s Hello Neighbour, whose yard is finally getting into the right form. Bowensonfire to go close, with I Started A Joke and Hello Neighbour to figure in the shake-up.

Coolmore N.H. Sires Los Angeles Irish EBF Mares I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2) 4.27
Celestial Tune
Top weight Celestial Tune does it for me for the Bumper. She’s got to give weight all round, carrying the penalty for a Listed Bumper win at Cheltenham the last day, but she’ll be fine on this deep ground and has a safe pair of hands on board. Willie Mullins has won the last three renewals, so Wonderful Everyday must be on anyone’s list, while Stephen Carey’s Brosna Shine should go close. Celestial Tune to defy top weight and bring up the hat-trick.