IT'S nearly here! Ahead of this weekend’s blockbuster Dublin Racing Festival, The Racing Edge team preview Leopardstown’s Grade 1 action and are joined by trainer Patrick Harty, whose Irish Panther is priced among the leading fancies for the Goffs Irish Arkle.

Trained in partnership with his father Eddie, the 19,000gns bargain buy gave Romeo Coolio an almighty scare at Leopardstown last month and looks one of Ireland’s top novice chasers in training this season. It remains to be seen whether he'll take up his engagement at Leopardstown this weekend, with serious rain hitting the Co Dublin venue, but Patrick gives us the latest on his big Cheltenham hope.

After what was a successful weekend for Irish connections in Britain, the panel also look back on the main races from Cheltenham and Doncaster.

Could Jimmy Mangan have a genuine Cheltenham Gold Cup contender on his hands in Spillane’s Tower? Can either of Paul Nolan’s Doncaster winners make a splash at the Festival in March? And what now for the Champion Hurdle division after a most unfortunate injury to Sir Gino?

Cheltenham’s dramatic delay to racing due to a hole in the track is discussed, as well as Horse Racing Ireland’s fresh plans to increase Irish prize money levels over the next three years.