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The Dublin Racing Festival has become an integral part of the racing calendar since launching in 2018 and this year’s Leopardstown showpiece promises plenty more intriguing narratives.

The cream of the Irish crop will be on show over two packed days containing eight Grade 1s, with stars such as Galopin Des Champs, Marine Nationale and State Man ready to take centre stage.

A key staging post on the road to Cheltenham and a fantastic spectacle in its own right, here is all you need to know ahead of the 2024 edition.
 

State Man 🆚 Honeysuckle

A battle for the ages in last year's Irish Champion Hurdle 🤜🤛#DublinRacingFestival | #EveryRacingMoment pic.twitter.com/XLk8GH5fWE

— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) January 31, 2024

When does racing start?

Saturday’s action begins at 1.20pm and three Grade 1s kick off a stellar day of racing.

Seven races take place in all, with the last going to post at 4.40pm.

Sunday’s card features eight races, meaning an earlier start. A mares’ hurdle kicks off day two at 12.40pm, with the final race of the festival at 4.25pm.

What are the big races?

Some of Irish racing’s most storied trophies are up for grabs across the two days.

Saturday’s feature is the Irish Gold Cup (3.35pm), which will see Galopin Des Champs attempt to defend his crown having emphatically returned to form at the same venue over Christmas.
 

He heads a five-strong field also containing familiar rival Fastorslow, who triumphed when the two met in the Punchestown Gold Cup last April.

Barry Connell’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero Marine Nationale is favourite for the Irish Arkle (2.25pm), also set to feature Gaelic Warrior and Found A Fifty.

Willie Mullins trains the favourites of the day’s opening two Grade 1s, with Storm Heart well backed in the McCann FitzGerald Spring Juvenile Hurdle (1.20pm) and Predators Gold a strong fancy in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (1.50pm), though Jessica Harrington’s Jetara has won on her last three outings.

Two Mullins heavyweights go head-to-head in Sunday's Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (2.45pm), with reigning champion State Man – who ended Honeysuckle’s remarkable unbeaten run last year – taking on Impaire Et Passe. Dual Cheltenham Festival winner Bob Olinger, back on form with consecutive wins, will be a popular choice with Rachael Blackmore likely to take the ride.

El Fabiolo is odds-on to land the Dublin Chase (2.10pm) while Closutton stablemates Fact To File and Ballyburn head the respective fields in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase (1.10pm) and Tattersalls Ireland 50th Derby Sale Novice Hurdle (1.40pm).

What are the trainers and jockeys saying?

Paul Townend (on State Man, via Meridian Media): “I love him, he’s been very good to me. Bar the one day we fell at Leopardstown in a maiden hurdle, he has been exceptional. He’s a straightforward horse, a class horse to be involved with. Bar Constitution Hill, he’s the best around.”

Willie Mullins (via Racing Post): "The horses are just running out of their skin and this is working into a really good festival. This is just hardcore racing over two days and you're going to see most, if not all of, the best horses in Ireland."

Gordon Elliott (via Racing TV): “I’m looking forward to Found A Fifty and we have a few nice horses in the bumper. We’ve loads of horses with each-way chances and if we can pull a couple of winners out, that would be great.”

Martin Brassil (on Fastorslow, via Racing TV): “Leopardstown drains well and it’s yielding soft on the chase track, so if it’s not any worse than that, it will be grand. He’s fit, his weight is good and everything is good with him.”

Henry de Bromhead (on Bob Olinger, via Meridian Media): “It’s great to see him coming back to himself and we are delighted with him, he seems in good form and hopefully we’ll be happy enough with him to take his chance. It will be a very good race and if we do turn up there, we’ll all learn something.”

What else will be on?

There will be a raft of entertainment and on-course activations throughout the weekend to treat the bumper crowds, expected to surpass last year's record-breaking figure of 34,591.

Rake The Ashes and Pogueology will be performing live after racing, while musicians from Clondalkin based Irish Cultural Centre Aras Chronain are in Hurricane's Bar throughout the day.

The course will also host an after party featuring DJ Lance West. Celtic drummers, the Dublin Gospel Choir, Sin A Deir Si and many more will also be performing.

Where can I buy tickets?

Tickets, including a Dubliner bundle for €70, are available here.

Free shuttle buses are running from Naas, Red Cow Luas, Sandyford Luas Stop, Blackrock Dart and Heuston Station.