DRF could include a hunter chase

THE unveiling of the entries for the Grade 1 events at the upcoming Dublin Racing Festival would indicate that the two-day spectacular at Leopardstown will serve up some tremendous fare and act as the perfect prelude to the Cheltenham Festival.

Earlier this week the entries for the various handicaps at the Dublin Racing Festival closed and those well-endowed prizes are sure to compliment the eight Grade 1 races.

At the risk of sound repetitive, it is a pity though that this fixture continues to take place without a hunters’ chase.

Previously Leopardstown played host to a top-class hunter chase which always took place immediately after the Irish Gold Cup.

This race was always one of the most interesting and well-contested events of its kind each season and it was often instructive to see how it compared to the Irish Gold Cup which was run over the identical course and distance.

The minimum value for any race at the Dublin Racing Festival is €100,000 and this is not to suggest that a hunter chase of that value should be staged.

However, all the major spring festivals on both sides of the Irish Sea offer hunter chasers their chance to shine on the biggest stage and the Dublin Racing Festival shouldn’t be any different.