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Leopardstown Tips on February 1st - Dublin Racing Festival 2025 Day 1 Tips

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Fri 31 Jan 2025 16:20

Jon Vine 31 Jan 2025

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Through-the-card tips on day one of the 2025 Dublin Racing Festival
Four Grade Ones will be run at Leopardstown on Saturday 1st February
Saint Lucie and Fascile Mode feature in our selections

Expired

Paul Townend returns after riding Galopin Des Champs to win Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown. (Getty)

DRF Day 1 Tips

1:15pm Leopardstown - Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle Tips
1:50pm Leopardstown - Juvenile Hurdle Tips
2:25pm Leopardstown - Handicap Hurdle Tips
2:55pm Leopardstown - Irish Arkle Tips
3:30pm Leopardstown - Irish Gold Cup Tips
4:05pm Leopardstown - Ryanair Handicap Chase Tips
4:35pm Leopardstown - Future Stars I.N.H. Flat Race Tips

The 2025 Dublin Racing Festival begins on Saturday and viewers have got a fantastic card to enjoy on Irish Gold Cup day.

Four Grade Ones will be run on Saturday, along with a couple of strong handicaps and the Future Stars Flat Race. Here are our best betting tips on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival.

2025 Dublin Racing Festival Day 1 Tips

1:15pm Leopardstown - Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle Tips

As with all of the Grade Ones at the Dublin Racing Festival, I wouldn't be shocked at all to see the podium here filled with Willie Mullins' horses. Paul Townend has opted to ride Final Demand, who could be the classiest of Willie's bunch and I'll be expecting him to justify his position in the market.

One that I do have my eye on is I AM LORENZO (20/1). Gavin Cromwell's six-year-old finished sixth on his hurdling debut at the 2023 Leopardstown Christmas Festival, and has finished second to Gigginstown horses on his two starts so far this term.

As I was reminded on X, I Am Lorenzo needs two more runs (not one) to qualify for something like the Martin Pipe. A good effort on Saturday would ensure that his mark is high enough to get into that handicap on Gold Cup day and Cromwell has enough time to squeeze another run in before the Festival.

1:50pm Leopardstown - Juvenile Hurdle Tips

There was nothing to separate Hello Neighbour and Lady Vega Allen when the two met at Leopardstown over Christmas. The thick fog made it impossible to really analyse what happened in that Grade Two, but I fancy neither jumped as well as SAINT LUCIE (2/1) did when scoring on debut at Fairyhouse.

Willie Mullins' favourite was keen early on and made a small error at the third-last. Paul Townend gave his mount the hurry-up going into the second last and Saint Lucie pinged it, before producing another impressive leap at the last to put that race to bed.

Paul Townend hasn't always got his choice right in the old Spring Juvenile, but he's opted to ride Saint Lucie over Lady Vega Allen and I'm inclined to take Paul at his word. I fancy she'll take plenty of beating.

2:25pm Leopardstown - Handicap Hurdle Tips

Just when the purists might have hoped for a reprieve from the Willie Mullins monopoly, we see that Meetingofthewaters has snuck into this handicap hurdle off a mark of 112 - a full 36 pounds lower than his chasing rating. I won't be backing the favourite, but one that I am keen to side with is handicap debutante CUSTOM TAYLOR (33/1).

Declan Queally's six-year-old has yet to win in three starts over hurdles but has placed behind classy sorts like Downmexicoway, Sommesky, and, most recently, Will The Wise. This opening handicap mark of 116 looks lenient, and Cian Quirke's claimer means Custom Taylor will carry less weight than even Meetingofthewaters. He could go well at a lengthy price.

2:55pm Leopardstown - Irish Arkle Tips

No bet for me in this one. Majborough clearly has the most going for him and I'd much rather back him than Ile Atlantique. Touch Me Not would be interesting each-way if there were three paid places up for grabs, but we've only got six runners in the field.

3:30pm Leopardstown - Irish Gold Cup Tips

Read our full guide to the 2025 Irish Gold Cup to find out who we've backed in Saturday's main event.

Visit our Irish Gold Cup Live Stream page if you plan on watching any of Saturday's races via a mobile or tablet.

4:05pm Leopardstown - Ryanair Handicap Chase Tips

Danny Mullins' record at the Dublin Racing Festival is as good as anyones riding this week. Danny will partner FASCILE MODE (10/1) for his uncle Tom in this handicap chase, having ridden him to victory over Irish Arkle contender, Touch Me Not and Cheltenham Trials Day winner, Moon d'Orange on his chasing debut at Punchestown.

Danny's mount fell early as Touch Me Not won the Craddockstown in November and produced a shocking round of jumping when well-beaten as the odds-on favourite in another novice in December. The form of Fascile Mode's chasing debut has been boosted plenty since and, if he can recapture that round of jumping, then he can play a massive hand in this handicap off a mark of just 135.

4:35pm Leopardstown - Future Stars I.N.H. Flat Race Tips

I rarely bet in bumpers and that's unlikely to change this weekend. I'll leave this one well alone.

Verdict

Dublin Racing Festival 2025 Day 1

Saturday's Top Tips at Leopardstown.

Saint Lucie

1:50pm 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

Fascile Mode

4:05pm Leopardstown

@10/1 - 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

I Am Lorenzo E/W

1:15pm Leopardstown

@20/1 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £40

in free bets

Bet at BOYLE Sports

Custom Taylor E/W

2:25pm Leopardstown

@33/1 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS