Nearly 200 entries have been received for the remaining seven races at the Dublin Racing Festival (DRF) to take place at Leopardstown on Saturday, January 31st and Sunday, February 1st.

The following is a summary of the standout entries:

Saturday, January 31st

Race And Stay Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle – Listed – 3m 19y

Top-rated is Staffordshire Knot, one of nine entrants from Gordon Elliott, winner of his last two starts in soft conditions by more than 15 lengths combined.

Duke Silver, trained by Joseph O’Brien, catches the eye having won at the Christmas meeting at this venue and at a similar distance.

Champagne Kid is another backing up after victory at the Foxrock track last month. Trained by Pat Collins in County Down, he decisively won a Listed contest over a slightly shorter distance under Eoghan Finegan and is improving fast.

Tony Martin’s Zanndabad, also engaged in a Grade 1 novice hurdle the same day, has won his last two starts, both in England.

Barberstown Castle Handicap Chase – Listed – 2m 1f

Western Diego impressed in yesterday’s Grade 3 Bet With Tote Dan & Joan Moore Memorial at Fairyhouse at this distance for Willie Mullins and could make his presence felt again here.

Teddy Blue represents the Harry Derham stable in Lambourn and is a classy sort on his day, having landed a Grade 3 at Ascot on his penultimate outing in November.

Addragoole won over this course and distance at Christmas for trainer Gavin Cromwell and since going chasing this season his form has found a new level.

Jacob’s Ladder may represent Gordon Elliott. A graded winning hurdler, he ran well when second in a Grade 3 novice chase last weekend at Punchestown.

An Peann Dearg won this contest last year and may represent trainer Paul Nolan.

DRF Future Stars INH Flat Race – Grade 2 – 2m – colts and geldings only

Willie Mullins has the best recent record in this race, winning four of its eight editions to date so it might be instructive that he has only entered one here, Bentraghhill, successful at this course and distance over Christmas.

Gordon Elliott has four engaged, three of them winners already, namely Broadway Ted, Charismatic Kid and With Nolimit.

It’s Only A Game and Rojuco Mac are also winners from limited experience and represent Martin Brassil and Charles Byrnes respectively.

Sunday, February 1st

Irish EBF Paddy & Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle – Listed – 2m2f

Gloucestershire-based Fergal O’Brien has nominated Siog Geal, successful in a Grade 2 mares’ novice in England last year.

Willie Mullins’ May Call You Back has good recent form over both fences and hurdles, while top-rated of the 30 entries is the notably consistent Mozzies Sister, stabled with Declan Queally.

Trainer Gavin Cromwell could return Only By Night back over hurdles. Last year’s Grade 1 Arkle runner-up at Cheltenham is rated 148 over fences but competes off a mark of 125 in this sphere. The Meath trainer might also run Dameauscottlestown, an easy winner at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve.

Denis Hogan’s Cousin Kate has won her last two starts, both of similar conditions to this, by over ten lengths combined, while Speculatrix prevailed in a Listed novice chase at Chepstow two starts ago for Gordon Elliott and may return over hurdles after three months off the track.

Adrienne has placed in Graded races in her last two starts for Ted Walsh and could also take her chance.

O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase – Grade 3 – 2m5f107y

This race carries a purse of €150,000 and has been rewarded with the biggest number of preliminary entries over the weekend, 49 in total.

Kerry National winner Spanish Harlem and Scottish National hero Captain Cody are just two among a raft of 17 potential candidates from Willie Mullins.

Gordon Elliott has 10 under consideration with Firefox, a Grade 2 winner in November, highest-rated of the entire field at present. The Cullentra stable has also listed Search For Glory, second in the Paddy Power Chase last month.

Third in the latter race was Kinturk Kalanisi and Tom Gibney’s gelding might be suited dropping back in trip here.

Wexford trainer Liz Doyle identified this race as a target for Ballybawn Belter – a winner at this fixture in 2023 - in the wake of her star mare’s Listed success at Limerick in December.

Meanwhile, A Wave Of The Sea is seeking a fourth DRF victory after wins in different races in 2020, 2021 and 2022 when trained by Joseph O’Brien. He is now in the care of Shane Broderick.

Timeless Sash Windows Handicap Hurdle – Listed – 2m

Another terrific pot worth €150,000 with 35 in the early reckoning.

Top-rated is a Grade 1 winner at this meeting last year, Hello Neighbour, stabled with Gavin Cromwell. Other that could be high in the handicap include Storm Heart, a Grade 1 runner-up at this meeting a year ago for Willie Mullins and Puturhandstogether, a Cheltenham Festival winner last year for Joseph O’Brien.

I Started A Joke, an easy maiden hurdle victor at Punchestown last weekend for the very much in-form Charles Byrnes stable, looks another one to note.

Popular veteran Lord Erskine won this race at odds of 40-1 two years ago and Harry Roger’s 13-year-old should not be discounted if he lines up again.

Two British challengers should be mentioned: Wilful, a convincing recent Grade 3 winner at Ascot for Jonjo & AJ O’Neill and Serious Challenge who scored in late December for Fergal O’Brien at Haydock.

Bowensonfire won over this course and distance in late December and is just one among many others that might fancy their chances.

Coolmore NH Sires Irish EBF Mares INH Flat Race – Grade 2 – 2m

A total of 12 entries were submitted for a race that Willie Mullins has won four times in the last five years, most recently with Bambino Fever the subsequent Grade 1 Cheltenham and Punchestown bumper heroine. The perennial champion trainer has narrowed his options to three mares here, all previous winners: Maximillian Lady, Some Pretender and Wonderful Everyday.

Celestial Tune has been successful on her last two starts for Kerry trainer Tom Cooper, latterly a Listed bumper at Cheltenham and she is due plenty of respect. The same applies to Brosna Shine, who looked smart in a Fairyhouse bumper just prior to Christmas for Kildare trainer Sonny Carey.

Click here for link to entries to Day One of Dublin Racing Festival

Click here for link to entries to Day Two of Dublin Racing Festival