Dublin Racing Festival Day 2 Tips, Predictions and Preview

The 2025 Dublin Racing Festival continues on Sunday 2nd February and our tipster Adam O’Brien has picked out his DRF betting tips for each race on the Leopardstown Day 2 card.

We get underway at 12.40pm and eight races are on the bumper card.

Read our preview and tips below and if you are looking for some free bets to spend on Leopardstown this weekend, join Gentleman Jim to get up to £40 in free bets based on your first day of losses.

 

12:40

British runners are few and far between in Dublin but there’s one here that will get day 2 off to a flyer for the travelling brigade. Harry Derham has already tasted handicap hurdle success in Ireland this season and he’s looking to double up now. Queens Gamble has been targeted for this race ever since her seasonal debut when 2^nd in the Gerry Feilden in November. In a competitive field, she hasn’t been missed in the market and although she has to give plenty of weight all round, shes my idea of the winner. Harry Derham’s strike rate in handicap hurdles is very taking and there’s no doubt he will have his mare in prime condition for this pot. Rachel Blackmore has been booked to ride and it will take a decent performance to stop 2 queens entering the winner’s enclosure.

Back Queens Gamble win only 4/1 (Bet365)

 

13:10

The race I’m probably looking forward to the most all weekend is next and I’ll be taking on the odds on favourite in it. The market (and hype) revolves around Ballyburn and even though his price has tightened since declarations, I believe he’s too short and still has it to prove over fences. It could be that he improves for the trip, but his first 2 goes over fences haven’t been spectacular and until I see him put in a proper round of jumping, my money will be going elsewhere.

I was delighted to see that Impaire Et Passe comes here rather than Sandown and preference will be for the Willie 2^nd string. I believe this trip is perfect for the horse and with a solid display at Xmas behind him (when he won the Grade 1 at Limerick), I think he is the one to side with at the prices. He will have a new rider on board following the retirement of Daryl Jacob but I would be hopeful JJ Slevin can win a big one for his new bosses and really shake up the novice chase division in the meantime.

Back Impaire Et Passe win only 10/3 (Paddy Power/Betfair)

 

13:40

Another intriguing novice contest where we are hoping to find plenty of answers come the finish line. The novice hurdle division is yet to really kick off this season but this race has the potential for a star to shine bright and cement their place at the top of the betting for Cheltenham. Ballyburn was an impressive winner of this last year and the vibes from Closutton are that Kopek Des Bordes can be that horse this time around. A good winner on hurdles debut (despite jumping poorly) over Xmas where the form has been franked in the last week, Paul Townend’s mount is the one they all have to beat. He’s the most likely winner and one I find difficult to oppose. I expect him to come on from his debut and jump better now that he has a better pilot on his back.

There is an Each Way bet here though that I just can’t let go unbacked and that’s Karniquet. You can write off his performance over Xmas as he made a terrible mistake at the 2^nd flight (fog may have played a part in that) and his race was nearly over then. Patrick did well to stay on board and get round to finish. Previous to that he looked fine on debut and has form from France that isn’t to be sniffed at. He is only 1 of a few novices that will qualify for festival handicaps after this run (it will be his 5^th start) and it could be that he isn’t a top-graded horse and he’s saved for handicaps in the spring, but I’m willing to take the chance, that’s he’s not a 5/6^th string and can have a say come the finish here.

Back Kopek Des Bordes (win) Evens & Karniquet EW 50/1 (Bet365)

 

14:10

Another race where Willie has the odds on hot pot, but another race I’m happy to take that hot pot on. Gaelic Warrior is the correct fav based on previous performances and potential to show greater improvement in open company over fences, but I think he’s got a lot to prove and at the prices, you have to take him on.

He has disappointed at Leopardstown before and unseated Paul Townend when beaten at this meeting last year (over 2m5). He is likely to come on from his seasonal debut at Xmas and it could be that he is just better than these and finally puts it together at the top table, but I’ll be siding with another 2^nd string from the yard.

Its been widely known that El Fabiolo had a setback at the start of the season and only last week it was said that the horse would struggle to even make this meeting, so you would have to be a faithful type to side with him on his seasonal reappearance. But that’s exactly what I’m doing. I think he’s a huge price considering his ability and previous form at the track. The risk is that he’s not fully wound up and this is just a spin round to get Cheltenham ready, but with question marks over others in the race, and with the price we can get on a horse that won this race at 4/11 last year, I’m happy to take the risk.

Back El Fabiolo EW 6/1 (Bet365)

 

14:45

Having tipped the winner of this race in this article last year, I’ve found finding today’s winner a lot tougher. Nothing stands out as a well handicapped or over priced horse but there’s 1 I can’t let one go unbacked all the same. Search for Glory is a horse that’s been on my list since the start of last season and I think there’s a big pot in him at some point. Whether today is the day remains to be seen but I’m willing to take the chance. Having run in graded races so far this season, this will be his first start in a handicap and I expect him to give me a run for my money.

Back Search For Glory EW 9/1 (Bet365)

 

15:20

No bet is needed here and there’s not one I would advise. I still think there are doubts that Lossiemouth will run and it wouldn’t be a million that shes a NR come the off. If she does run then it could be a cracking match but it’s one I’m happy to sit out and see what unfolds come 15:20 on Sunday.

 

15:50

Storm Heart is a horse I had high hopes for last season before he fell short at the top table come the spring. Last season’s juveniles were a good crop though so just being behind them isn’t the worst form to take into this. It won’t be easy winning this on seasonal reappearance (last seen at Punchestown in May) but I believe he’s here to win the race and I’ve taken note that this is Paul Townend’s only handicap ride of the weekend.

A few who line up here may have other targets down the line and will use this as prep runs for those races (James Gate, The Enabler) so I’m happy to take the chance that Willie will have this ready to take this prize. I expect him to go off shorter than his current price that you can still get in the village at the time of writing.

Back Storm Heart EW 8/1 (Paddy Power)

 

16:25

A hot mares bumper concludes the meeting and there’s a few you can make a case for. Future Prospect sets the standard and comes in as the short priced fav based on her Irish debut performance in December.

I’m siding with one at a bigger price though and hope success goes to a smaller yard in the shape of Carrigmoornaspruce. I was hugely impressed with my charges turn of foot in the closing stages over Xmas and I think she’s a huge player with the raw ability she possesses. Trainer Declan Queally said his horse was only 80% fit for that run and is convinced she will strip better today and if that’s the case, she is overpriced. I will be amazed if shes not there at the finish.

Back Carrigmoornaspruce EW 7/1 (Bet365)

 

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