The 2025 Dublin Racing Festival is finally here, where the greats of national hunt racing converge on Leopardstown for two days of world-class jumps racing.

Eight Grade 1s over two days are up for grabs, with the highlight on day one being the Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup, where two-time Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup winner, Galopin Des Champs, will look to win back-to-back runnings before going on to Cheltenham in the pursuit to become only the fifth horse to win three Cheltenham Gold Cups.

Let’s take you through all seven races on day one and give you my best betting tips for each.

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1:15 Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle – 2m6f (5yo+)

Supersundae is a good starting point after his fine second in the Grade 1 Lawlors Of Naas Novice Hurdle at Naas, where he found The Yellow Clay too good for him on the day.

He had Wingman and Jasmin De Vaux (jumping is a massive issue) behind him that day and should uphold that form here.

For all that Supersundae bring more potential than most to the table, he may have to settle for a supporting role again, but this time to the exciting FINAL DEMAND.

This expensive purchase from the point-to-point scene made a lasting impression on debut at Limerick.

Having travelled and jumped well throughout, there were never any worries for his backers on the day as Final Demand picked up the clear lead four out and went on to win by 15 lengths in a canter.

The form of that race has worked out, with the second and third going on to win since.

With any amount of improvement to come from this son of Walk In The Park, we could be about to witness something special.

Selection: Final Demand 7/4

Danger: Supersundae 5/1

Current Betting: Final Demand 7/4, Supersundae 5/1, Sounds Victorious 7/1, Jasmin De Vaux 8/1, Mozzies Sister 10/1, 12/1 bar.

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Grade 1 Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle – 2m (4yo)

Hello Neighbour and Lady Vega Allen, who finished first and second in the Grade 2 O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle over course and distance at Christmas, lock horns once again.

They pulled 11 lengths clear on the day, and there should be plenty more improvement from both. But they may find it tough to get the better of SAINTE LUCIE.

The daughter of Grey Pretender will look to go one place better than Lossiemouth did in 2022.

Coming from France in the summer with little talk surrounding her (which is a good thing), she soon had everyone talking about her after she won with any amount in hand on stable debut at Punchestown.

Having travelled well on the pace throughout and jumping well in the main, the race was in the bag before she turned into the home strength.

The form of that race looks solid, with the second and third going on to fill the runner-up spot on their next start.

Sainte Lucie is a big mare, and there is no doubt that she will come on massively for that run, so with that being the case, she could be about to challenge for favouritism Triumph Hurdle favouritism with a winning performance today.

Selection: Sainte Luice 5/2

Danger: Hello Neighbour 7/4

Current Betting: Hello Neighbour 7/4, Saint Lucie 5/2, Lady Vega Allen 4/1, Sony Bill 14/1, Wendrock 16/1, 20/1 bar.

Bet on Sainte Luice with Sky Bet

Listed Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle – 3m (4yo+ 0-150)

• Age: 9
• Weight: 11st 2lb
• Form: 6-2222
• Rating: 146
• Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
• Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
• Odds: 4/1

Meetingofthewaters has to be the starting point here.

He comes in here off a 36-pound lower mark than he has over fences, which undoubtedly makes him throw in off 112. But as we have seen in the past, it doesn’t always work out as you would think with horses who run off a much lower mark than they have in their favoured discipline.

He has a favourite chance, but at his current price, I want to take one at bigger odds in a race that has produced a 28/1 and 40/1 winner in two of the last four runnings.

I will side with GAOTH CHUIL, who runs off just four pounds higher than when a close second in this last season.

This talented mare gets the services of talented seven-pound claimer Joe Williamson here, leaving her on an attractive mark for today.

She has had three runs this season, showing that she may still have more to offer and may be about to come to the boil.

On a track where two of her three wins have come, and with a handy seven-pound claim in her favour, Gaoth Chuil looks a fair each-way price at 20/1.

King Alexander and A Tipp For Gold are others to consider.

Selection: Gaoth Chuil 20/1

Danger: Meetingofthewater 2/1

Current Betting: Meetingofthewater 2/1, Perceval Legallois 9/2, King Alexander 8/1, Flicker Of Hope 8/1, Backmeorsackme 10/1, 14/1 bar.

Bet on Gaoth Chuil with Paddy Power

2:55 Grade 1 Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase – 2m1f (5yo+)

Willie Mullins has taken his race in the last four runnings, but only one of them went off as favourite on the day, which leaves you wondering if Majborough should be so short in the betting.

He won well in his chase debut, but it wasn’t enough to earn him a 4/7 shot against some of his rivals here, and yes, he brings untapped potential to the table.

Given his size and scope, we have not seen anything near what he may be capable of, but I want to take him on today.

Ile Atlantique has been impressive on both his chase starts to date and had Firefox five lengths behind him in the Grade 2 Racing Post Novice Chase at Nass in January. There is every reason to expect him to come forward again, but TOUCH ME NOT may be a fly in the ointment here.

After an eye-catching debut over fences at Punchestown, he showed that it was just a sign of what would come as he ran away with the Grade 2 Craddockstown Novice Chase back at Punchestown while still looking green.

A trip to Sandown was next for the Grade 1 Henry VII Chase, where a shuttering mistake at the six all but cost him the race. But on reflection, you can upgrade that performance massively, as he was still in there with a winning chance coming to the last, only fading late to be beaten over three lengths.

Leopardstown tends to reward front runners over two miles, and if he can get into a rhythm on the front end with Ile Atlantique, there is a more than fair chance that Touch Me Not could cause an upset today.

Selection: Touch Me Not 10/1

Danger: Majborough 4/6

Current Betting: Majborough 4/6, Ile Atlantique 3/1, Firefox 8/1, Touch Me Not 10/1, Jeannot Lapin 33/1, Here Comes Georgie 50/1.

Bet on Touch Me Not with Midnite

Grade 1 Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Chase – 3m½f (5yo+)

The highlight of day one of the Dublin Racing Festival sees GALOPIN DES CHAMP looking to win three consecutive Irish Gold Cups.

Having been turned over by Fact To File in the Grade 1 John Durkan at Punchestown at the start of the season, the two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup hero gained his revenge with a pulverising display over course and distance, leaving Fact To File over seven lengths behind him, in second.

Team Fact To File will need to change tactics if they are to get closer to Galopin Des Champs, but if they do try and take him on up front, they may be setting themselves up for greater failure.

It’s impossible to oppose Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown, and barring accidents, the Gold Cup hero will win his third Irish Gold Cup.

Monty’s Star would be of big each-way interest if the de Bromhead yard were firing, but if they come back to form, he can come on for his seasonal reappearance and fight for the places.

Selection: Galopin Des Champs 4/7

Danger: Fact To File 7/2

Current Betting: Galopin Des Champs 4/7, Fact To File 7/2, Monty’s Star 10/1, Embassy Gardens 12/1, Inothewayurthinking 20/1, Hewick 20/1, 40/1 bar.

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Listed Ryanair Handicap Chase – 2m1f (5yo+ 0-150)

It’s a tough handicap to solve, but a chance is taken with FACILE MODE in the hope that he can put in a better round of jumping on his handicap debut than in his last two starts.

He made a winning start to his chasing career when getting the better of Touch Me Not at Punchestown, but failed to follow up that win when falling behind Touch Me Not when they clashed again in the Grade 2 Novices Chase at Punchestown.

His jumping issues again came to the fore when he was sent on 10/11 for a novice chase back at Punchestown. But if he can hold it together in the jumping department and perform as he did on debut, a mark of 135 looks more than manageable.

Others to note are An Peann Dearg, who has been put up six pounds for his course and distance win and should be bang there again, as should the eleven-year-old Dont Go Yet.

Selection: Facile Mode 10/1 (e/w)

Danger: An Peann Dearg 13/2

Current Betting: Midnight It Is 4/1, Shanbally Kid 5/1, An Peann Dearg 13/2, My Mate Mozzie 10/1, Facile Mode 10/1, Captains Nephew 11/1, 11/1 bar.

Bet on Facile Mode each way with Sky Bet

4:35 Grade 2 Paddy Power Play Card (C & G) I.N.H. Flat Race – 2m (4-7yo)

The Grade 2 bumper closes proceedings on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival, and it is a race that has produced the likes of Envoi Allen, Appreciate It, Kilcruit, and A Dream To Share. And this year, renewal looks wide open.

He Cant Dance looks like the pick of Gordon Elliott’s three runners, while Patrick Mullins has chosen to ride Green Splendor for his Dad, Willie.

All have their chance, but one at big odds who has the form in the book to outrun his odds is COLCANNON.

This five-year-old son of Berkshire has already run five times in bumpers, recording one win and three place finishes, with a notable second to current Mares Novices Hurdles second favourite Sixandahalf.

His win on his comeback in October came at the expense of Heads Up, who has since gone on to win next time out by 24 lengths. He backed that up with a fine second to current Champion Bumper favourite Kalypso’chance, giving Colcannon’s form an even better look.

With the form working out well, Colcannon can put his experience to good use here and is a big each-way player in a wide-open renewal.

Selection: Colcannon 14/1 (e/w)

Danger: Green Splendour 10/3

Current Betting: He Cant Dance 3/1, Green Splendour 10/3, I Started A Joke 4/1, Sortudo 6/1, Kokail Brut 8/1, 10/1bar.

Bet on Colcannon each way with Paddy Power

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