THE Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, run for the first time as a Grade 2 at the inaugural Dublin Racing Festival last season, has been upgraded to Grade 1 level and has received a €25,000 prize money increase.

Previously the Tied Cottage Chase, the first running of the two-mile-one-furlong contest at Leopardstown, which held Ladbrokes’ sister company Coral in its title, was won impressively by Min, who went on to finish second in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding is likely to be a contender for the contest this year alongside his stablemate Footpad, who won a Grade 1 at the same festival last term.

Senior National Hunt Handicapper Andrew Shaw said: “If you look at the race, it has consistently produced top performers, who go on to run well in the Champion Chase. Every year the Pattern Race Committee examines these races.

“For a Grade 1 you need the average rating of the four best horses in the race at the end of the season to be 155+. Last year’s race averaged out at 161 and consistently down the years the race has been 155+. All you have to do is look at the winners, the likes of Douvan, Sizing Europe, Big Zeb and Moscow Flyer.”

DUBLIN FESTIVAL

It brings the number of Grade 1 races at the Dublin Racing Festival, which takes place on February 2nd and 3rd, to eight, split evenly between both days. The other seven Grade 1 races have also each been given a €25,000 prize money increase. The Unibet Irish Gold Cup remains the most valuable contest with a guaranteed €225,000 value, followed by the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle valued at €175,000. The other six Grade 1s all hold a value of €125,000.

One of those Grade 1 races, the two-mile novice hurdle, previously known as the Deloitte Novice Hurdle, will now be sponsored by Chanelle Pharma. The race was won easily by Samcro last season.

Also, a new Leading Trainer and Jockey Award for the Christmas Festival has been announced by Leopardstown and O’Driscoll O’Neil Insurance brokers.

The award will go to the trainer and jockey with most winners during the four days at Leopardstown and the prizes include a trophy, a gift and motor insurance provided by the sponsor.

Announcing details of the award, sponsor Tim O’Driscoll, who saw his own horse Flawless Escape win at the meeting last year, said: “We are delighted to be a part of the inaugural Leading Trainer & Jockey Award. I have been a lifelong fan of racing and was lucky enough to have my first ever Leopardstown winner here at last year’s festival.

“O’Driscoll O’Neill have sponsored some of Ireland’s best known jockeys for a long number of years and this association made sense for our brand, given our existing sponsorship.”