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Dublin Racing Festival

Confirmed runners and riders for the Grade 1 races on the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday

Willie Mullins' Galopin Des Champs and Majborough run on the first day of the Dublin Racing Festival
Willie Mullins' Galopin Des Champs and Majborough run on the first day of the Dublin Racing Festival

Galopin Des Champs will face nine rivals as he bids for a famous third win in a row in Saturday's Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3.30) after the final fields were revealed for the first day of the Dublin Racing Festival.

The Willie Mullins-trained star has swept up the highlight before going on to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory in 2023 and last year, and will bid to do so again under regular rider Paul Townend. He will join the likes of Jodami and four-time hero Florida Pearl on an illustrious roll of honour should he land the race three times in succession.

Galopin Des Champs will face off against Fact To File for the third time this season, with the scores level at one win apiece. Fact To File defeated him in the John Durkan Memorial Chase before his stablemate exacted his revenge in the Savills Chase.

Galopin Des Champs ridden by Paul Townend jumping the last fence to win the Savills Chase
Galopin Des Champs: back in action at the opening day of the Dublin Racing FestivalCredit: Caroline Norris

Mullins will also be represented by Grand National hero I Am Maximus, Embassy Gardens, Grangeclare West and Minella Cocooner in a six-strong team. 

Grade 1 winners Hewick, Conflated and Inothewayurthinkin also line up, as does the Henry de Bromhead-trained Monty's Star.

Mullins also has a formidable hand in the Goffs Irish Arkle (2.55) with Majborough and Ile Atlantique set to face off against each other.

Majborough, last season's Triumph Hurdle hero, made a fine chasing debut at Fairyhouse last month, while Ile Atlantique impressively won a Grade 2 Naas on his last start. Firefox, Here Comes Georgie, Touch Me Not and 150-1 chasing debut winner Jeannot Lapin complete the field.

Final Demand will face 11 rivals as he bids to land the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (1.15) – the opening Grade 1 of the meeting.

The impressive Limerick scorer heads a team of five for Willie Mullins, which also includes Champion Bumper hero Jasmin De Vaux, Joystick, Sounds Victorious and Supersundae.

Jasmin De Vaux (near): runs in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle
Jasmin De Vaux (near): runs in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

A field of eight will contest the Gannon's City Recovery Juvenile Hurdle (1.50), including easy Punchestown winner Sainte Lucie. She bids to enhance her Triumph Hurdle claims and is one of two runners for owners Rich and Susannah Ricci, who also have Willy De Houelle.

Hello Neighbour, the shortest-priced Irish-trained runner in the Triumph betting, will also take his chance and renew rivalry against Lady Vega Allen, who he beat in a course-and-distance Grade 2 last month.

In Britain, Jango Baie will face three rivals as he bids for Grade 1 glory in the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (2.35) at Sandown on Saturday.

An impressive winner of his chasing bow at Cheltenham in December, the Nicky Henderson-trained star will face Towton winner Handstands, Kalif Du Berlais and Mark Of Gold.


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Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Chase runners and riders

Conflated Sam Ewing
Embassy Gardens
Michael O’Sullivan
Fact To File
Mark Walsh
Galopin Des Champs
Paul Townend
Grangeclare West
Brian Hayes
Hewick
Jordan Gainford
I Am Maximus
Jody McGarvey
Inothewayurthinkin
Keith Donoghue
Minella Cocooner
Danny Mullins
Monty’s Star Rachael Blackmore

Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Chase (3.30 Leopardstown, Sunday)
Sponsors: 8-13 Galopin Des Champs, 7-2 Fact To File, 8 Monty’s Star, 12 Embassy Gardens, 20 Hewick, Inothewayurthinkin, 40 I Am Maximus, 100 Conflated, Grangeclare West, Minella Cocooner


Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase runners and riders

Firefox Sam Ewing
Here Comes Georgie
Lee Edwards
Ile Atlantique
Paul Townend
Jeannot Lapin
Ricky Doyle
Touch Me Not
Danny Gilligan
Majborough Mark Walsh

Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (2.55 Leopardstown, Saturday)
bet365:
1-2 Majborough, 7-2 Ile Atlantique, 9 Touch Me Not, 10 Firefox, 33 Jeannot Lapin, 50 Here Comes Georgie


Gannon's City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle runners and riders

Bacchanalian Shane Fitzgerald
Hello Neighbour
Keith Donoghue
Sony Bill
Danny Mullins
Wendrock
Sam Ewing
Willy De Houelle
Brian Hayes
Galileo Dame
JJ Slevin
Lady Vega Allen
Sean O'Keeffe
Sainte Lucie Paul Townend

Gannon's City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle (1.50 Leopardstown, Saturday)
bet365:
15-8 Hello Neighbour, 2 Sainte Lucie, 4 Lady Vega Allen, 10 Bacchanalian, 16 Wedrock, Sony Bill, 20 Galileo Dame, 33 Willy De Houelle


Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle runners and riders

Final Demand Paul Townend
I Am Lorenzo
Keith Donoghue
Jasmin De Vaux
JJ Slevin
Joystick
Danny Mullins
Pray Tell
John Shinnick
Sommesky
Rachael Blackmore
Sounds Victorius
Sean O'Keeffe
Sporting Glory
Sam Ewing
Supersundae
Patrick Mullins
Wingmen
Danny Gilligan
Mozzies Sister
Shane Fitzgerald
World Of Fortunes Jordan Gainford

Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (1.15 Leopardstown, Saturday)
bet365: 7-4 Final Demand, 9-2 Supersundae, 5 Sounds Victorius, 15-2 Jasmin De Vaux, 12 Mozzies Sister, 16 Sommesky, World Of Fortunes, 20 Sporting Glory, I Am Lorenzo, Pray Tell, 25 Wingmen, 33 Joystick


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Why this horse can win at the Dublin Racing Festival - including one who can upset Gaelic Warrior 

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