🏇 Silks and Shenanigans: The DRF Mud-Bath Edition

It has been an eventful week at Leopardstown as the course prepares for the Dublin Racing Festival (DRF) this weekend. 

After some serious flooding concerns earlier in the week, the latest update is a green light for racing. Here is the current situation as of today, January 29, 2026:

🌧️ Track Update: “Fit for Racing”

The course was hit by a massive 60mm deluge of rain on Monday, which left parts of the track looking more like the River Liffey than a racecourse. However, following “trojan work” by the grounds staff—including pumping water off the track into wooded areas—the Clerk of the Course, Paddy Graffin, confirmed yesterday that the track is fit for racing. 

• Current Going (estimated): The chase track is currently Soft, while the hurdles track is described as Heavy (loose). 

• Weather Outlook: Another 10–20mm of rain is expected between tonight and Friday morning, but officials are “completely optimistic” the festival will proceed as scheduled. 

🏇 Dublin Racing Festival Schedule

The two-day showpiece begins this Saturday. Tickets are near capacity, with over 35,000 fans expected.  The Clark reports here:👇🏼

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Date: January 30, 2026 Location: Leopardstown (assuming it’s not a lake by tomorrow)

Buckle up, punters. The Dublin Racing Festival (DRF) is teetering on the edge of “gladiatorial” and “aquatic.” While the stars are aligned for a weekend of Grade 1 glory, Mother Nature seems to have placed a heavy bet on the “No Race” outcome.

Here is your essential briefing on the naps, the whispers, and the weather.

🚨 The Inspection: Will It Go Ahead?

The big question on everyone’s lips: Will we even be racing tomorrow?

• The Status: An inspection has been called for 2:30 PM today (Friday).

• The Problem: Over 193mm of rain has lashed the track in the last fortnight. While the chase course is currently “Soft to Heavy,” parts of the hurdle track are officially unfit for racing as of this morning.

• The Verdict: Officials are “optimistic,” but if the forecast 10-20mm of rain hits tonight, don’t be shocked if the meeting is pushed or specific hurdle races are moved.

• Contingency: There are whispers of a “Chase-only” card if the hurdle track stays waterlogged, though that’s a logistical nightmare for a Grade 1 festival.

📉 Timeform Naps: The “Heavy Ground” Heroes

If the green light is given, the ground will be a slog. Timeform’s data points to horses with “stout” pedigrees who thrive in the Dublin muck.

🤫 Insider Shenanigans: The Whispers

• The “Mud-Lark” Special: Keep a close eye on Santo Sospir (13:15). The word from the yard is that he’s a “real stayer in the making” and his recent win on heavy ground at Clonmel was no fluke. At 6/1, he’s the each-way play of the day.

• Mullins’ Tactical Shift: With the ground being so testing, expect the Mullins camp to ride their stars much more conservatively. They aren’t looking for “stylish” wins; they are looking for survival.

• The Gaelic Warrior Warning: Ruby Walsh is leaning toward Gaelic Warrior in the Gold Cup, suggesting he might have the raw power to out-muscle Galopin if the ground becomes a true “bottomless” test.

Tomorrows tips

• The Main Nap: Lossiemouth (15:20). She is Timeform’s highest-rated horse on the card. Despite the presence of Brighterdaysahead, Lossiemouth’s performance in the December Hurdle at this track makes her the one to beat.

• The “Next Best”: Final Demand (13:10). Unbeaten in two starts over fences, including a Grade 1 at Limerick, he is rated as being “very hard to beat” by Timeform’s analysts.

• Value Play: Ballyfad (13:40). While Talk The Talk is the official verdict, many experts (including Ruby Walsh and Angus McNae) have highlighted Ballyfad as the horse with the most untapped potential at around 4/1.

🧥 Survival Guide for Fans

If you’re heading to Foxrock, forget the fascinators—bring the wellies.

1. Check before you trek: Follow the IHRB on social media around 3:00 PM today for the final inspection result.

2. The Betting Ring: In conditions like this, look for horses with a low center of gravity. Leggy “skyscrapers” often struggle to pull their feet out of the Leopardstown glue.

Latest update 👇🏼

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For Monday, February 2, 2026, the spotlight is on Leopardstown for the rescheduled Dublin Racing Festival card, alongside a competitive jumps fixture at Kempton Park.

Below are the Timeform-informed selections and top-rated horses based on current data.

🏇 Leopardstown (Dublin Racing Festival)

The ground is currently Heavy (Hurdle) and Soft to Heavy (Chase).

• Timeform Top Rated / Best Bet: Doctor Steinberg (1:15)

• Unbeaten in two starts over hurdles, including a smooth Grade 2 win at Limerick. He is the one to beat in the Nathaniel Lacy Novice Hurdle.

• Other High-Rated Contenders:

• Narciso Has (1:50): Rated 144. An impressive winner over course and distance on Boxing Day; looks the class act in the Juvenile Hurdle.

• Mange Tout (1:50): A serious challenger to the above, 3-for-3 and sister to the high-class Impaire Et Passe.

• Galopin Des Champs (Irish Gold Cup): The heavy hitter of the day. He seeks a historic fourth consecutive win in this race, though he’ll need to reverse recent form with Affordable Fury. But Can Danny Win? Or Fact to File?

• County Final (2:25): Currently a well-supported 4/1 favorite in a deep handicap field.

🏇 Kempton Park

The ground is Good to Soft (Soft in places).

💎 The “Naps” Summary

• Timeform’s Primary Kempton Call: Neon Dream (2:02) — A high-potential novice from the Dan Skelton yard.

• Industry “Nap” (Neil Morrice): Step Ahead (2:02 Kempton) — Interestingly, this horse takes on Neon Dream, making the 2:02 the “race of the day” for tipsters.

• Leopardstown “Banker”: Doctor Steinberg (1:15) — Viewed as the most solid Grade 1 prospect on the card.