We take a look through the schedule for the 2021 Dublin Racing Festival
This two-day meeting kicks off at Leopardstown on Saturday 6th February
Eight Grade One races will be handed out over the weekend
The Irish Champion Hurdle and Irish Gold Cup headline their respective cards
Faugheen winning the Flogas Novices' Chase at last year's Dublin Racing Festival. (Getty)
The countdown is now well-and-truly on for the 2021 Dublin Racing Festival. This action-packed meeting kicks off at Leopardstown on February 6th, and viewers can look forward to two stunning days of racing.
Here's a closer look at the two racecards and some of the horse's viewers can look forward to watching during this unmissable meeting.
Saturday at the Dublin Racing Festival kicks off with three back-to-back Grade Ones. The first of those is the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Novice Hurdle, where Gaillard Du Mesnil could square off against the top two in the 2021 Albert Bartlett betting, Stattler and Ashdale Bob.
All eyes will then be on Chacun Pour Soi, as the Champion Chase favourite takes on Min and Notebook in the Dublin Chase. Energumene will put his Cheltenham credentials on the line against Unexcepted and Andy Dufresne in the Irish Arkle.
Honeysuckle tops the market for the 2021 Irish Champion Hurdle. Henry De Bromhead's mare remains unbeaten, but she'll have to take down Sharjah, Saint Roi and Abacadabras if she wants to become a back-to-back winner of this historic race.
A couple of lucrative handicaps will also take place on day one. The final race is the Future Stars Flat Race, where Gordon Elliott's Sir Gerhard will likely carry a very short price into battle.
Delta Work winning last year's Irish Gold Cup. (Getty)
Dublin Racing Festival Day Two Card
Time
Title
12:55pm
Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) 2m2f
1:25pm
Spring Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m
1:55pm
Chanelle Pharma Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m
2:30pm
William Fry Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) 3m
3:00pm
Flogas Novice Chase (Grade 1) 2m5f
3:30pm
Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3m
4:00pm
Leopardstown Handicap Chase (Grade A) 2m5f
4:35pm
Mare's Flat Race (Grade 2) 2m
Dublin Racing Festival Day Two Preview
The first Grade One on day two at the Dublin Racing Festival is the Spring Juvenile Hurdle, where top four-year-olds Zanahiyr, French Aseel and Quilixios have all been entered. Appreciate It will then look to extend his unbeaten record over hurdles in the Chanelle Pharma.
Another of Willie Mullins' leading Cheltenham Festival contenders, Monkfish will then carry a short price into the Flogas Novices' Chase, before the contenders in this year's Irish Gold Cup hit the track.
Minella Indo fell last time in the Savills Chase, but that hasn't stopped bookies pushing Henry De Bromhead's star to the head of the market. Kemboy and Melon could both run, along with last year's winner, Delta Work, who also took a tumble over Christmas.
The William Fry Handicap Hurdle and the Leopardstown Handicap Chase also feature on Sunday card. The Dublin Racing Festival comes to a close with a Grade Two bumper for mares, where Willie Mullins could be strongly represented by either Take Tea, Brandy Love or Brooklynn Glory.
