Dublin-Festival in Leopardstown

Leopardstown, Saturday, 4 February: Over two days, the Dublin Festival takes place in Leopardstown. Today the Irish Gold Cup (4th race/16.05 h/250.000 Euro/4870 m) is on top.

The clear favourite for the Group 1 chasing test is the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin des Champs (Paul Townend). The highly superior winner of the Punchestown Chase (Group 1) in December should not lose if he runs faultlessly, but in-form stablemate Stattler (P. Mullins) will not let him take the field without a fight. He last brought Minella Indo to the brink of defeat in the New Years Day Chase (Group 3). Kemboy (Rachael Blackmore) won two years ago and currently excels with four consecutive honours. He was better in the Savills Chase (Group 1) than Fury Road (Davy Russell), who won the Eventsec Chase (Group 2) at Down Royal. The Big Dog (Keith Donoghue), Any Second Now (Mark Walsh) and Franco De Port (Danny Mullins) complete the seven-strong field with outside chances.