All eyes are on the legendary Galopin Des Champs this weekend as the star chaser aims to secure a historic fourth victory in the prestigious Irish Gold Cup. However, the entire racing calendar faces significant disruption as relentless rainfall threatens to wash out major meetings at both Leopardstown and Sandown Park.
Weekend Racing Hangs in the Balance
Prospects for the most valuable and significant weekend of racing in the run-up to the Cheltenham Festival in March remained precariously balanced on Friday evening. Both Leopardstown, home to the Dublin Racing Festival, and Sandown Park have called for precautionary inspections on Saturday morning due to serious fears over further overnight rain.
Leopardstown's Soggy Predicament
Leopardstown has endured nearly 200mm of rain over the last two weeks ahead of the Dublin Racing Festival, which is scheduled to stage eight crucial Grade One races. Clerk of the course Paddy Graffin will inspect the track at 8am on Saturday.
"We’ve had a look at a fresh line of the hurdle track right out beside the chase track," Graffin stated on Friday. "In my opinion, this line is currently fit to race despite 22mm of rain last night. However, we do have the potential for a further 10-20mm of rain. We would like to get a bit of luck with that, but it is currently fit to race."
Sandown Also Under Threat
Similar concerns plague Sandown, which is due to stage a seven-race card featuring the Grade One Scilly Isles Novice Chase. Andrew Cooper, Sandown’s clerk of the course, announced on social media: "There will be a precautionary inspection tomorrow morning at 7.30am. Both the hurdle and chase courses are currently raceable. There was 2mm of rain on Thursday night into Friday and we are due further rain from 4pm on Friday afternoon into Saturday morning."
Galopin Des Champs Chases History
Despite the weather woes, the narrative of the weekend centres on Galopin Des Champs. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding was finally beaten in a Leopardstown chase at the eighth attempt when only third behind Affordale Fury in the Savills Chase in December. However, that run marked his seasonal debut, and he is now strongly fancied to register a record-equalling fourth win in the Irish Gold Cup on Saturday.
It is worth noting that Galopin Des Champs was also beaten first time up in both 2023 and 2024 before going on to win a three-mile Grade One at Leopardstown on his next outing. His performance in December showed more than enough to suggest his elite talent remains largely intact. The dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner should also appreciate Saturday’s sterner test on much softer ground, and can beat a top-class field to match Florida Pearl’s record of four wins in this iconic race.
Saturday's Key Selections
Sandown 12.55 Bollin Thou remains lightly raced for an eight-year-old and even a 13lb rise may not be enough to prevent him completing a four-timer.
Musselburgh 1.10 A closely matched field of juvenile hurdlers but Made U Blush won with something to spare last time and gets a valuable 7lb sex allowance from most of her rivals.
Sandown 1.25 Gary & Josh Moore’s Rip Wheeler was badly hampered by an early faller last time and will outrun odds of around 6-1 if returning to his highly promising form earlier in the season.
Musselburgh 1.43 Afadil bids to repeat his win in this race two years ago, but he is without a victory since and the hat-trick-seeking Williethebuilder has more substance to his recent form.
Musselburgh 2.20 Insurrection put up his two best performances over fences over track and trip and Freddie Keighley’s 7lb claim is a further point in his favour.
Sandown 2.02 The booking of Harry Cobden aboard Escapeandevade for only his seventh ride for Harry Derham is eye-catching, and the 10-year-old also has winning form on heavy ground.
Sandown 2.40 Gordon Elliott’s Kala Conti is much improved since switching from hurdles to chasing and saw off a Willie Mullins-trained odds-on shot with ease in a mares’ race at Cork in December. At around 9-4, she looks over-priced to complete a hat-trick.
Leopardstown 2.55 This looks straightforward for Romeo Coolio as he bids for a third Grade One of the campaign.
Sandown 3.10 The recent rain is just what Henri The Second’s connections would have wanted to see and last season’s runner-up can improve his excellent track record.
Sandown 3.42 Fortunate Man remains lightly raced over fences and put up a career-best on his return at Aintree.
