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Dublin Racing Festival 2026 Tips - Sunday's best bets at Leopardstown

jon-vine
Jon Vine
Editor
Last updated: Sat 31 Jan 2026 07:34
The Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown promises thrilling action on its second day. Notable tips include SHODA (8/1) in the Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle, showcasing strong form. In the Ladbrokes Novice Chase, Final Demand stands out, though odds suggest exploring other options. MAJBOROUGH (2/1) in the Dublin Chase is a strong contender, thanks to favorable ground conditions. KINTURK KALANISI (9/1) looks poised for success in the Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase, while BLUE LEMONS (25/1) could surprise in the Handicap Hurdle given ideal slow ground.
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Jon Vine 31 Jan 2026
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  • Free tips for Sunday at the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival
  • Four Grade Ones will take place at Leopardstown on February 1st
  • Koktail Brut and Kinturk Kalanisi feature in our Sunday selections
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Leopardstown february
Leopardstown races. (Getty)

Here are our Dublin Racing Festival tips for Sunday, race-by-race selections for the opening day of this two-day meeting at Leopardstown.

After Saturday's card was moved to Monday, the Dublin Racing Festival will officially open at Leopardstown on Sunday, where the Irish Champion Hurdle headlines a stellar card. Here are our best betting tips.

Dublin Racing Festival Tips - Sunday 1st February


12:40pm Leopardstown - Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle Tips


Sean Bowen has an excellent chance to hit the headlines in Ireland on Sunday, when he partners with SHODA (8/1) in this Listed handicap.

Joseph O'Brien's mare progressed nicely on the flat over the summer, finishing second in two 16-furlong handicaps before finally claiming a deserved win at Clonmel. Shoda was pitched in with the geldings as she made her hurdling debut at Leopardstown, where she stayed on with great credit to finish third behind Ballyfad and Leader d'Allier - both of whom will be contesting Grade Ones over the coming months.

O'Brien's mare was held up and didn't jump particularly well when third on her most recent start at Clonmel, but that experience should stand her in good stead. Shoda jumped and travelled well here at Leopardstown over Christmas, and this step up in trip should bring about further improvement.

1:10pm Leopardstown - Ladbrokes Novice Chase Tips


Not much to day here. Final Demand is by far the best horse in the field, and should win comfortably. He's not worth backing at 2/5, so save your stake for another race.

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1:40pm Leopardstown - Ireland Novice Hurdle Tips


I backed King Rasko Grey at 8/1 earlier this month, and he's been hammered in the market since. Paul Townend's mount looked smart when winning at Limerick. Yet, given how open this division is, I don't fancy backing anything as short as 3/1 in this Grade One.

One who seems overpriced to me is KOKTAIL BRUT (66/1). Gordon Elliott's charge won the Royal Bond on his penultimate start, but is available at 66s on Sunday after just one poor run over Christmas.

Elliott's charge made all to beat some decent rivals on his hurdles debut at Punchestown, and held off Blake from the front to claim Grade Two glory at Fairyhouse. Danny Gilligan's mount went off at 4/1 for the Grade One here at Christmas, but sat too close to an unsustainably fast pace set by Le Divin Enfant, and weakened rapidly after a poor jump at the second-last.

Koktail Brut's two previous outings over hurdles came on fairly testing ground, so quick winter ground will have come as quite a shock. Conditions should be much more to his liking on Sunday, and Koktail Brut boasts much stronger form than most sitting ahead of him in the market. 

2:10pm Leopardstown - Dublin Chase Tips


MAJBOROUGH'S (2/1) jumping has been terrible on his first two starts this season, and Willie Mullins' star doesn't seem to be learning from his mistakes. Yet, there are plenty of reasons why I think he'll win quite comfortably on Sunday.

Marine Nationale's entire season was geared towards the Champion Chase last term, and Barry Connell is just looking to put his stable star spot on for Cheltenham. Solness got the better of both to claim his third Grade One win around Leopardstown at Christmas, but all of those wins have come on nice ground and conditions won't be in his favour on Sunday.

Energumene is past it, Found A Fifty doesn't really like Leopardstown and Senecia isn't good enough. Majborough could almost win this by default, and it'll be very interesting to see how Willie Mullins' star performs in first-time cheek-pieces.

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Mark Walsh riding Majborough clear the last to win The Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown. (Getty)

2:45pm Leopardstown - Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase Tips


This Grade Three handicap usually goes to a fancied runner sitting towards the bottom of the weights, and the first seven in the current market will all carry 10-7 or less. KINTURK KALANISI (9/1) ran a cracker on his reappearance at Leopardstown over Christmas, and there's every chance he'll have improved for that belated reappearance.

Thomas Gibney's star was fancied for the Irish Grand National last spring, having shown promise in his first few starts over fences. Kinturk Kalanisi unseated his rider on his prep-run for Fairyhouse at Naas in March, and went on to struggle in the big race itself, where he was pulled up before the final flight.

Gibney's star hit the front going well on the approach to the second-last in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Christmas, and still held a narrow lead at the final flight, only for Favouri De Champdou and Search For Glory to fight back in the final 100 yards. That outing will have done Kinturk Kalanisi the world of good, and James Smith's mount is at his most comfortable on testing ground.

3:20pm Leopardstown - Irish Champion Hurdle Tips


Read our full guide to the 2026 Irish Champion Hurdle to find out who we've backed in Sunday's main event at Leopardstown.

Visit our Irish Champion Hurdle Live Stream page to watch any of Sunday's races at Leopardstown via a mobile device.

3:52pm Leopardstown - Handicap Hurdle Tips


Willie Mullins will saddle almost half of the field ahead of this handicap hurdle. Paul Townend and Harry Cobden ride his two most fancied runners. Yet, my eye is drawn to BLUE LEMONS (25/1), who'll be ridden by the excellent Danny Mullins.

Having arrived at Willie Mullins' yard from Richard Hannon at the start of last season, Blue Lemons won two of his four outings over hurdles. Danny's mount was beaten heavily on both of his starts in Grade Ones, but won nicely on his stable debut at Gowran Park in February and claimed Grade Two glory with a rampant display at Fairyhouse's Easter Festival.

Good ground was never going to suit Blue Lemons as he made his reappearance over Christmas, and I wasn't surprised to see Brian Hayes' mount pulled up having failed to feature. Blue Lemons needs slow ground to produce his best form, and Mullins' outsider will get his ideal conditions this weekend.

4:27pm Leopardstown - Mares I.N.H. Flat Race Tips


No bet for me in the bumper.

Verdict

DRF Top Tips for Sunday:

Best Bet1: Majborough 2:10pm Leopardstown @2/1 at BOYLE Sports - 5 Units
Best Bet2: Shoda 12:40pm Leopardstown @8/1 at BOYLE Sports - 5 Units
Best Bet3: Kinturk Kalanisi 2:45pm Leopardstown @9/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
Best Bet4: Koktail Brut E/W 1:40pm Leopardstown @66/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
Majborough
2:10pm Leopardstown
@2/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £40
in free bets

18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply.

Bet at BOYLE Sports
Shoda
12:40pm Leopardstown
@8/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £40
in free bets

18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply.

Bet at BOYLE Sports
Kinturk Kalanisi
2:45pm Leopardstown
@9/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad

Bet at bet365
Koktail Brut E/W
1:40pm Leopardstown
@66/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad

Bet at bet365

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