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Dublin Racing Festival 2026 Tips - Four to back now for Leopardstown

jon-vine
Jon Vine
Editor
Last updated: Thu 22 Jan 2026 16:29
The 2026 Dublin Racing Festival promises exhilarating race days on January 31st and February 1st at Leopardstown. Highlighted picks include Lazare De Star, tipped for success in the Nathaniel Lacy Novice Hurdle, and Kala Conti in the Irish Arkle. Notably, Willie Mullins’ star, Il Etait Temps, remains a strong contender. As Mullins faces a challenging season, selections like King Rasko Grey in the Tattersalls Novice Hurdle add strategic interest. Betting enthusiasts should consider these early insights for potential value bets.
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Jon Vine 22 Jan 2026
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  • 2026 Dublin Racing Festival: January 31 & February 1 at Leopardstown
  • Highlighted picks: Lazare De Star, Kala Conti, King Rasko Grey, Il Etait Temps
  • Willie Mullins faces challenges; strategic betting insights are provided
leopardstown february
The Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown. (Getty)

The initial entries for the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival were revealed this week, and punters can look forward to two thrilling days of racing at Leopardstown.

Today, I've taken a look through the Grade One markets and picked out four overpriced contenders. Here are our free betting tips for Leopardstown.

Dublin Racing Festival 2026 Early Tips 


31/1/26 1:15pm Leopardstown - Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle Tips


The Dublin Racing Festival is usually a Willie Mullins benefit. However, the Champion Trainer is having an unusually poor season and his bunch of novice hurdlers - at this moment in time - look pretty average. Obviously, all of Willie's youngsters are sure to improve as the season wears on, but it could still be worth taking them on come the DRF.

LAZARE DE STAR (8/1) could be overpriced, given what he did during Leopardstown's Christmas Festival. Jack Kennedy's mount was strong in the betting going into that two-and-a-half-mile maiden, and cruised to an impressive four-length victory.

Gordon Elliott's five-year-old shaped well behind Saint Baco on his hurdles debut at Navan. Lazare De Star quickened nicely into a commanding lead at Leopardstown, and didn't do much once he hit the front. I expect he'll improve again for that outing, and should have no trouble seeing out the extra furlong-and-a-half.

31/1/26 2:55pm Leopardstown - Irish Arkle Tips


Kopek Des Bordes is odds-on to win this Grade One, despite missing his Christmas assignment. Kargese is the 3/1 second-favourite, after she was handed a her first chasing win over Christmas. KALA CONTI (14/1) hammered Kargese when the two met over fences at Cork, and she can be backed at a double-figure price.

Gordon Elliott's mare is two-from-two since switching to fences. Kala Conti saw out two-and-a-half miles well when winning her Beginners Chase, but travelled even better over a shorter trip in the in the Grade Two Mares' Novice Chase in December, sprinting 14 lengths clear of Kargese after a much better jump at the final flight.

Kala Conti won a Grade Two around Leopardstown as a juvenile hurdler and finished second to July Flower in a Grade Three last Christmas. Elliott's mare has certainly improved for fences, and she's a good value option against the geldings.

il etait temps
Paul Townend riding Il Etait Temps clear the last to win The Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown. (Getty)

1/2/26 1:40pm Leopardstown - Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle Tips


Despite everything I said when covering the Nathaniel Lacy, I'm happy to back one of Willie's novices at the Dublin Racing Festival if they seem overpriced. KING RASKO GREY (8/1) certainly does, considering Talk The Talk and El Cairos fell last time out, and The Reverend looked like he'd appreciate a longer trip.

Second to Soldier In Milan in a quality bumper at the Punchestown Festival, Danny Mullins' mount faced some talented rivals on his hurdling debut at Limerick. King Rasko Grey jumped and travelled well, hitting the front on the approach to the last before easing a couple of lengths clear on the run to the line.

I was impressed with that performance, and King Rasko Grey looks ready for the step up into Grade One company. If Paul Townend opts to ride The Reverned, then Danny will likely reprise his partnership with this talented six-year-old, and his record at the DRF is excellent.

1/2/26 2:10pm Leopardstown - Dublin Chase Tips


IL ETAIT TEMPS (5/2) has been the star of the season so far for Willie Mullins. Willie's grey won the Celebration Chase on his only start of last season and cruised to victory at Thurles on his reappearance, before returning to Britain to slam Jonbon again in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.

In his last two outings at the Dublin Racing Festival, Il Etait Temps has won two Grade Ones. Danny Mullins' mount powered to victory in the two-mile novices hurdle in 2023, and snatched a narrow victory in the Irish Arkle two years ago.

Marine Nationale's entire season is being geared around the Champion Chase again, so I doubt Barry Connell will be too disappointed if he's beaten in February. I can see a world where Il Etait Temps goes off as the favourite, so I'm keen to take 5/2 while it's available.

Verdict

Early Dublin Racing Festival Tips:

Best Bet1: Lazare De Star 31/1/26 1:15pm Leopardstown @8/1 at bet365 - 1 Unit
Best Bet2: Kala Conti 31/1/26 2:55pm Leopardstown @14/1 at BOYLE Sports - 1 Unit
Best Bet3: King Rasko Grey 1/2/26 1:40pm Leopardstown @8/1 at bet365 - 1 Unit
Best Bet4: Il Etait Temps 1/2/26 2:10pm Leopardstown @5/2 at BOYLE Sports - 1 Unit
Lazare De Star
31/1/26 1:15pm Leopardstown
@8/1 - 1 Unit
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
Kala Conti
31/1/26 2:55pm Leopardstown
@14/1 - 1 Unit
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
King Rasko Grey
1/2/26 1:40pm Leopardstown
@8/1 - 1 Unit
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
Il Etait Temps
1/2/26 2:10pm Leopardstown
@5/2 - 1 Unit
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

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