Opening day of Dublin Racing Festival must pass morning inspection
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Fri 30 Jan 2026
Leopardstown will inspect at 8am on Saturday ahead of the first day of the Dublin Racing Festival.
On Tuesday the course was unraceable with deep standing water on the back straight. However, due to the efforts of ground staff it was able to be drained away and was drying up nicely.
Another 22mm of rain fell on Thursday and into Friday morning, though, taking the total to 193mm in the past two weeks, leaving parts of the hurdle track unfit for racing.
Officials have looked to reconfigure the hurdle track and on Friday afternoon were satisfied it was raceable – but with the possibility of a further 10-20mm of rain on Friday, an inspection has been called.
Clerk of the course Paddy Graffin said: “We’ve had a look at a fresh line of the hurdle track right out beside the chase track. In my opinion this line is currently fit to race despite the 22mm of rain last night. We’ve not used it before but it is fit to race.
“However, we do have the potential for a further 10-20mm of rain, we would like to get a bit of luck with that but it is currently fit to race.
“The going is heavy (on the hurdles track) and soft to heavy on the chase track.
“The rain is to move in tonight and because of that we propose an 8am inspection when we hope to have a bit of luck.”
There is also Grade One action due to take place at Sandown on Saturday, with Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott set to be represented through Kitzbuhel and Kala Conti respectively in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase.
While the course was raceable on Friday, clerk of the course Andrew Cooper has called a precautionary inspection for 7.30am with further rain forecast.
A post from the track on X said: “There will be a precautionary inspection tomorrow morning at 7.30am ahead of Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Saturday. Both the hurdle and chase courses are currently raceable.
“There was 2mm of rain on Thursday night into Friday and we are due further rain from 4pm on Friday afternoon into Saturday morning.
“We will provide an update on conditions at 7.30am tomorrow.”
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