Sunday 1st February 2026
We get things underway at Leopardstown on Sunday with the 12.40, which is the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy & Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle over two miles and two furlongs. A chance could be taken on GALILEO DAME here at a big price for Joseph O’Brien and J J Slevin. She’s yet to win over hurdles, however, went close last time out when half of a length second of eighteen at Limerick in December, and she was also second in a Grade 1 Juvenile last term. She’s clearly got ability, and could outrun a big price in this. The in-form Cousin Kate is a big danger to all here, and UK raider Siog Geal also has to be respected for Fergal O’Brien and Jonny Burke.
It’s Grade 1 action up next at 1.10, with the Ladbrokes Novice Chase taking centre stage over two miles and five and a half furlongs. It’s almost impossible to oppose FINAL DEMAND here for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. He was a dual Grade 1 winner over hurdles, and landed his first Grade 1 over the larger obstacles last time out at Limerick when winning the Faugheen Novice Chase by eight-lengths. He’ll likely take another big step forward here, and it would be a big shock if he weren’t to win this. The best of the rest is likely stablemate Kaid d’Authie, who won a beginners chase at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day by ten lengths.
The third race of the day is the 1.40, which is more Grade 1 action in the form of the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle over two miles. This could well be another one for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, as KING RASKO GREY could be an improver for Closutton. He won a likely hot eighteen-runner maiden last time out at Limerick by two and three-quarters of a length, with the form of that race already being boosted. He should also show natural improvement coming into his second start of the campaign here, and he’s a player. Talk The Talk is an obvious big danger for Joseph O’Brien; he was a seven-and-a-half-length winner of a Grade 3 on his penultimate start, and could well gain compensation for his fall in Grade 1 company last time out.
Next up it’s the 2.10, and this is the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, which is set to be ridden over a distance of two miles and a furlong. Last year’s Champion Chase winner MARINE NATIONALE could prove tough to beat here for Barry Connell and Sean Flanagan. He ran a very encouraing race on his seasonal reappearance here over Christmas, finishing half of a length second to the reopposing Solness in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase. Notably, he made a fairly big error early on in the contest, so he did well to get as close as he did. He should be a lot sharper here and should be bang on the premises once again. His main danger looks to come in the form of Majborough for Willie Mullins and Mark Walsh; he’s not quite fired on all cylinders so far this term. However, the yard is now in much better form, and there should be more to come from him.
We move back into handicap company at 2.45, with the Leopardstown Handicap Chase over two miles and five and a half furlongs. Joseph O’Brien could hold the key here with KIM ROQUE, who’s the mount of Conor Stone-Walsh. He’s a French recruit who has run well in both starts for his new yard, with both of those runs coming at Cheltenham, where he finished second of six in November, before finishing fourth in the December Gold Cup most recently. He’ll contest this off the same mark as that latest effort, and he could make use of a low weight in this particular assignment. There should be improvement still to come.
The feature contest of the day on Sunday is the 3.20, and this is the Grade 1 Irish Champion Hurdle, which is run over two miles. It’s hard to see past the fantastic LOSSIEMOUTH here for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins. She’s already accumulated an illustrious CV of Grade 1 victories, including in each of her two starts this term in the Morgiana Hurdle and the December Hurdle over course and distance last time out. She got the better of Brighterdaysahead on that occasion by a length, and whilst it’s likely there won’t be much in it again when they reoppose here, the Ricci-owned mare may well have too much class once again. She’s the one to beat, and can take this on route to a potential Champion Hurdle tilt at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The penultimate race on Sunday is the 3.52, and this is a Listed Handicap Hurdle, which is set to be contested over two miles. As expected, this is extremely competitive; however, it could be another success for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend with MURCIA, who’s currently trading at a best price of 8/1. She won the Grade 1 Juvenile contest at Aintree back in April, and posted a solid comeback effort at Fairyhouse last time out when third and giving weight away within Grade 3 company. She should strip considerably fitter for this assignment, and given she’s already proven that she’s a smart mare, she could have a big say at the business end of things.
Bringing the curtain down on Sunday will be the 4.27, and this is the Grade 2 Mares I.N.H Flat Race over two miles. It could pay to take a chance on ARAMINTA here, who’s a five-year-old for Gavin Cromwell. She rallied well on debut to finish second to the reopposing Brosna Shine, keeping on strongly to finish eleven lengths ahead of the horse in third that day. The yard wasn’t exactly firing on all cylinders at that time, and are back among the winners now, which is another big plus. She should also show natural progression coming into this start, and she’s well-related being a half-sister to top chaser L’Eau du Sud.
12.40 – Galileo Dame – 11/1 – (Each-Way) (5 places)
1.10 – Final Demand – 2/5 – (Win)
1.40 – King Rasko Grey – 11/4 – (Win)
2.10 – Marine Nationale – 15/8 – (Win) (NB)
2.45 – Kim Roque – 11/2 (Each-Way) (5 places)
3.20 – Lossiemouth – 5/4 – (Win) (NAP)
3.52 – Murcia – 8/1 – (Each-Way) (5 places)
4.27 – Araminta – 7/1 – (Each-Way)
