Leopardstown racecourse was under water on Tuesday morning, but officials at the track are confident that the Dublin Racing Festival will get the go ahead. On a bumper weekend of action the entries were made for the Irish Gold Cup with some huge Cheltenham Gold Cup clues likely to be on offer. Check out Wednesday’s racing news round-up.
Leopardstown ‘optimistic’ to host DRF despite heavy rainfall
A deluge of rain has hit Leopardstown over the last few days, with 58mm hitting the track in one day, but officials at the Irish track are optimistic then can get the track in a fit state to host the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival on Saturday and Sunday. Videos circulated on social media on Tuesday morning of puddles across the course, but there was a more attractive picture later on in the day after track staff had pumped the water away.
A statement on Tuesday morning said parts of the track were waterlogged following 58mm of rain in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 165mm over the past 12 days.
Peter Roe, head of racing for HRI-owned tracks, said on Tuesday afternoon: “We had 58mm in the last 24 hours versus a forecast 60mm for the entire week. The track was waterlogged at the lowest point of the track at the Foxrock entrance. We have already seen a significant drop in the water levels and are optimistic ahead of the weekend providing the forecast is correct.’’. (Racing Post)
Affordale Fury set for Irish Gold Cup challenge, as 15 entries received
Dual Irish Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs is the star attraction amongst 15 horses entered for the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Saturday afternoon, but Noel Meade is ready to unleash Affordale Fury, who defeated the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero in the Savills Chase over Christmas.
Meade said: “All is well, we’re very happy with our horse, so it’s all systems go at the moment. “He was only a novice really going into Christmas, so there was improvement there and we always thought quite a bit of him. “You have to do it again now, I fully expect Willie’s horse to be a lot harder to beat and we will have to improve.” (At The Races)
Ruby Walsh: Spindleberry can down Dinoblue at Leopardstown
Speaking on Paddy Power’s ‘From The Horses Mouth’ podcast, Ruby Walsh fancies Spindleberry to beat Dinoblue in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Two very smart mares, who have blossomed over fences, it’s Spindleberry that has caught the eye of the former top class National Hunt jockey.
Walsh said: “Dinoblue has had the option of coming down to two miles in the past, not quite at Grade 1 level, but definitely at Grade 2 level. I would say Dino is probably the quicker of the two mares whereas there’s no doubt about Spindleberry in the trip and staying at it really well and she’s been progressing nicely. “She’s an eight-year-old, I know her owner Fearghal Eastwood is keen to shoot for the stars [go for the Gold Cup], but I guess it’s Willie Mullins’ job is to measure his expectations or manage them even, but I do think it’s a deep race. “I think Spindleberry is the most likely winner for me.”. (Sporting Life)
Josephine Gordon reveals seven-year battle against deafness
Josephine Gordon, a former champion apprentice, has opened up about her hearing loss that has affected her riding over the last seven years. The 32-year-old has recently been in hospital for surgery at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge on her right ear to correct a condition which threatened to make her totally deaf.
She said: “It’s a rare thing and I haven’t come across anyone that has had this problem in my time which is probably why it’s so long to get it sorted, although the IJF and Jets have been brilliant as have my sponsors Star Sports.” Basically they call a dead ear on a mark of 90, which is totally deaf, and I was on a mark of about 70 and it wasn’t getting any better. If I didn’t have hearing aids I wouldn’t be able to hear too much and you can’t race ride in your hearing aids as they are too bulky so something needed to be done.” (Racing Post)