The Dublin Racing Festival is always one of the highlights of Ireland’s National Hunt calendar, and we’ve got day one tips for all seven races at Leopardstown on Saturday.
BOYLE Sports are one of the biggest backers of jump racing, sponsoring the Irish Grand National, and always offer great odds on all the action.
BOYLE Sports' Brian O'Keeffe was joined by our Horse Racing Ambassadors Robbie Power, Bryan Cooper, and John 'Shark' Hanlon in our brand new studio to get their thoughts on the 2026 Irish Gold Cup and all the Dublin Racing Festival action at Leopardstown this weekend.
Now let's get right to our selections for Day 1 at the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival.
DRF Day 1 Tips
Dublin Racing Festival Day 1 Tips: 7 Saturday Predictions
Leopardstown 13:15 Tip
LEOPARDSTOWN 13:15 – DOCTOR STEINBERG
Willie Mullins has not been as dominant as usual in this division so far this season, but it is hard to overlook his superb record in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle, having landed the Grade One event 10 times in the last 14 years.
Doctor Steinberg is rated Closutton’s big hope this term after following up a comfortable Galway success on his jumping bow with a convincing pillar-to-post victory in Grade Two company at Navan.
Leopardstown 13:50 Tip
LEOPARDSTOWN 13:50 – IMMEDIATE EFFECT
Gordon Elliott’s Mange Tout bids to confirm her Fairyhouse superiority over Narcisco Has in the Grade One Juvenile Hurdle, but we’re siding with stablemate Immediate Effect to upset the big two.
A decent handicapper on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott, this gelding kept on well to score at Punchestown on his first start since switching to Cullentra House, and the booking of Sean Bowen suggests he is not here to make up the numbers.
Leopardstown 14:25 Tip
LEOPARDSTOWN 14:25 – COUNTY FINAL
This lightly-raced six-year-old romped home by 16 lengths in a Navan maiden before twice being a solid runner-up in better company, and there could still be lots more improvement to come from him after just five outings to date.
Leopardstown 14.55 Tip
LEOPARDSTOWN 14:55 – ROMEO COOLIO
Mullins has saddled five straight winners of the Grade One Irish Arkle but must rely on admirable mare Kargese following the defection of Kopek Des Bordes.
Although the County Hurdle heroine receives a 7lb allowance, it is Elliott’s much-vaunted Romeo Coolio who remains the one to beat here after already striking at an elite level in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse and this venue on Boxing Day.
Leopardstown 15:30 Tip
LEOPARDSTOWN 15:30 – GALOPIN DES CHAMPS
One of the most popular steeplechasers in recent memory is taken to emulate Florida Pearl as a four-time Irish Gold Cup winner.
While beaten by both Affordale Fury and I Am Maximus on his Christmas return, the Mullins-trained superstar, also a dual Cheltenham Gold Cup champion, likely just needed his first outing of the season and should take the necessary step forward here.
Leopardstown 16:05 Tip
LEOPARDSTOWN 16:05 – JASKO DES DAMES
Henry De Bromhead’s charge went into many notebooks as a future big-race winner after finishing fifth in last year’s Grand Annual and appears to have been laid out for the Barberstown Castle Handicap Chase since posting a couple of decent seconds in September and October.
Leopardstown 16:40 Tip
LEOPARDSTOWN 16:40 – IT’S ONLY A GAME
Martin Brassil’s €160,000 purchase caught the eye, making late headway when second of 20 on his racecourse debut at last year’s Punchestown festival, and made a big impression when again finishing strongly to score at the same track in late November.
The French-bred five-year-old has attracted support for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and can pick up this valuable prize en route to Prestbury Park.
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