Welcome back to the blog, racing fans! If you’ve looked out the window lately, you might have thought we were preparing for a regatta rather than the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival.
But as the saying goes: “The rain may fall, but the show must go on.” Here is the lowdown on the current state of play at Leopardstown as we head into one of the most prestigious weekends in the National Hunt calendar.
🌊 Storm Chandra vs. The Grounds Team
It’s been a week for the history books, and not necessarily for the right reasons. Storm Chandra decided to gatecrash the party, dumping a staggering 60mm of rain on the track in a single 24-hour window this Monday. To put that in perspective, that’s nearly a month’s worth of rain in one go, bringing the 12-day total to a soaked 165mm.
By Tuesday morning, parts of the track, specifically the low-lying areas near the Foxrock entrance, were officially waterlogged. For a moment, “unraceable” was the word on everyone’s lips.
🏗️ The Drainage Miracle
However, if you ever needed proof that Leopardstown has one of the best grounds teams in the world, this is it. Lead by new CEO Mark Clayton and the expertise of clerk Paddy Graffin, the crew has been working overtime to battle the elements.
- Fresh Ground: The team has strategically saved the “middle line” for the hurdle track—ground that hasn’t been touched in ages—to ensure the horses have the best possible footing despite the deluge.
- Infrastructure at Work: Recent years of redevelopment and drainage upgrades are being put to the ultimate test. While the M50 was practically a canal on Tuesday, the track’s drainage systems have already seen water levels drop significantly as the storm clears.
- Current Going (As of Tuesday Night): * Hurdle Track: Soft to Heavy.
- Chase Track: Yielding to Soft (the Chase course always drains a bit faster!).
“The storm is blowing through, and we’re confident. I’m not sure many tracks in Britain or Ireland could take this volume of rain and still be standing.” — Mark Clayton, Leopardstown CEO.
🐎 The Shenanigans: Who’s Staying Grounded?
The testing conditions are already shaking up the markets.
- The Marine Nationale Dilemma: Owner Barry Connell has been honest, his superstar doesn’t love the deep stuff. He’s “playing it by ear” for the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, hoping for the ground to dry back to a “reasonable surface.”
- The Stalwarts: Expect the mud-larks to be shortening in the betting. With eight Grade 1s on the line, including the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, we’re looking for horses with serious “engine” and stamina to burn.
🎟️ Essential Intel for Racegoers
If you’re heading out this weekend, remember:
- Ticket Only: There are no walk-ups this year! The event is ticket-only to ensure everyone stays comfortable (and hopefully dry).
- The Wardrobe: It’s “Silks and Shenanigans,” but let’s be practical—wellies and tweed are the winning combo for 2026.
- The Outlook: The heaviest rain has passed. Met Éireann is forecasting a drying trend toward the weekend, meaning we might just see some “Soft” appearing back on the going stick by Saturday.
The verdict? It’s going to be testing, it’s going to be gritty, but thanks to the heroic efforts of the Leopardstown grounds team, it’s going to be spectacular.
With Leicester abandoned due to the heavy rain (no surprise given the deluge we discussed in Leopardstown!), the focus for tomorrow, Wednesday, January 28, 2026, shifts entirely to the All-Weather under the lights at Kempton Park and the afternoon action at Dundalk.
Here are the updated Timeform “Naps” and highest-rated runners now that the mud-fest at Leicester is off.
🕒 Timeform’s Best Bets (The Updated Naps)
With the turf out of the equation, the “Smart Stats” and “Analyst Verdicts” are strongly siding with these three:
- The Day’s Best (Nap): Savannah Grey (20:00 Kempton) She is the clear standout for the night. She won a 4-runner novice at Chelmsford with plenty in hand last time and makes her handicap debut off what looks like a very lenient mark of 75. Timeform has her “Small P” (likely to improve).
- The Dundalk Special: Arrietty (16:32 Dundalk) Joseph O’Brien’s filly is the highest-rated maiden on the card. She was a bit tardy from the stalls last time, but the Timeform verdict suggests she is the clear class act in this field if she gets a clean break.
- The “Weight of Money” Shout: Rising Force (18:30 Kempton) Darryll Holland’s gelding is chasing a hat-trick and has been the subject of early market support. He carries a 5lb penalty for a recent Lingfield win but is officially “4lb well-in” according to Timeform’s weight-adjusted ratings.
📈 Top Rated Horses (Kempton & Dundalk)
If you’re looking for the horses with the highest Master Rating (the “pure speed” figures), these are the ones to beat:
The “Shenanigans” Play
Keep an eye on Aneirin’s Sword (18:00 Kempton). Jamie Osborne’s yard is in flying form, and this horse shared the spoils in a dead-heat at Chelmsford recently. Timeform’s “Price Hint” suggests he might drift early before being backed heavily right before the off, a classic “shenanigans” move to watch for in the betting ring.
Silks and Shenanigans 