Dublin Racing Festival day one card cancelled - Irish Gold Cup will now be run on Monday
For the first time, the Dublin Racing Festival will extend to Bank Holiday Monday due to weather disruptions. Despite initial optimism, continuous heavy rain rendered the track at Leopardstown unsafe, prompting the postponement of Saturday's events, including the Irish Gold Cup, which is now scheduled for Monday. Clerk of the course, Paddy Graffin, confirmed the challenges posed by the weather and outlined a contingency plan offering half-price tickets for fans. Further inspections will determine if Sunday's Irish Champion Hurdle card will proceed as planned.
- Dublin Racing Festival extends to Bank Holiday Monday due to heavy rain
- Saturday's events postponed; half-price tickets available
- Further inspection will decide the fate of Sunday's races
For the first time since its inception, the Dublin Racing Festival will spill into Bank Holiday Monday, after Saturday's card was postponed.
Dublin has been hit by deluge after deluge of heavy rain over the past fortnight. Earlier in the week, organisers were optimistic that the weather wouldn't disrupt the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival - if conditions calmed down before the weekend.
Sadly, the rain continued to pelt the track at Leopardstown on Thursday and Friday. The track passed an initial inspection on Friday afternoon, but clerk of the course at Leopardstown, Paddy Graffin walked the course early on Saturday morning, and decided that it was unfit for action.
"The rain that has fallen up the eastern side of the country is at record levels, so everywhere is saturated.
"If we have a dry bright day today and it brought the track back to where we were yesterday, hopefully it will be okay and we can drive on, but it will need a bounce of the ball.
"The team at Leopardstown have done great work all week and they have brought in extra resources to give the meeting every chance, and we know how well it can drain, so hopefully they get the bit of luck they need.
"I was optimistic coming up the road this morning because yesterday I was very happy that we had found a nice line right out by the chase course, which as we know usually needs water.
"It's often quicker than most people want out there and we wouldn't ever be watering out there so I was very positive, but this morning it had got to the point where it was complete saturation after the rain overnight.
"When I walked onto the track I knew straight away we were in trouble. The water is squelching up over your ankles in your boots when you walk in it. I walked about a furlong in the back straight and I just said, 'No,' and nobody disagreed. It was an easy call.
"The safety of the riders and the welfare of the horses is my only concern and I couldn't ask them to jump out of it today. Sometimes the elements just work against you, and it wasn't fit to race."
Despite passing the inspection on Friday afternoon, organisers announced a contingency plan to combat any further rainfall. Saturday's Irish Gold Cup card will now take place on Monday, and tickets will be available at half-price for any racing fans who want to take advantage of the unexpected bank holiday action.
Graffin will take to the course again on Sunday morning, to see if the Irish Champion Hurdle card will be given the go-ahead. You can find free tips for every race at the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival here on our website.
*Afternoon Update*
Leopardstown CEO, Mark Clayton spoke to the press as ground staff continue to try and drain the standing water from the track.
"They are working away on the track. When we went out there this morning, it was unraceable after 17 millimetres of rain overnight, with 100mm during the week.
"We were expecting 4-5mm this morning, but we have had about 2mm and we are forecast a dry day today and then through until Monday.
"Given the forecast, we would be cautiously optimistic about Sunday’s card but we will have an inspection at 8am."
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