Today’s Leopardstown Odds and Tips

Leopardstown plays host to top quality Flat and National Hunt racing and you can see all the latest races, odds, results and tips here...

Leopardstown Major Races

Leopardstown Racecourse is just 5 miles away from Dublin and it hosts jump racing in the winter and for the rest of year its hold flat racing meetings. The track at Leopardstown is a left handed oval that is one mile and six furlongs in circumference; it has an uphill finishing straight.

The course holds race meetings all year round and generally stages around 22 meetings. Principal races here are Tattersalls Irish Champion Stakes which is held in September and is the highlight of the flat horse racing season with a prize of €1 million on offer. Another key race is the Hennessy Gold Cup which is held in February each year.

The course has a golf club that is located along with the clubhouse in the centre of the racetrack. On top of this there are several restaurants, designer boutiques and even a night club.

In sprint races there is a draw stall advantage for high numbers.

Big Races Run At Leopardstown Racecourse

Leopardstown hosts both National Hunt and flat racing on its dual-purpose course. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important events to watch out for — and don’t forget you can find all the Leopardstown racing results right here at HorseRacing.net.

Irish Gold Cup

A premier date in the Leopardstown calendar, the Irish Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase taking place in February. It’s run over a distance of roughly three miles, with 17 fences to jump along the way. Inaugurated in 1987, the race soon became an important trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup — over its short history, four horses have won both events in the same year. The most successful horse is Florida Pearl, bagging three consecutive wins in 1999, 2000, and 2001 plus a fourth in 2004. Galopin Des Champs was first across the line in 2023. 

Irish Champion Hurdle

The Irish Champion Hurdle is considered by some to be loosely equivalent to the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival, and it acts as somewhat of a trial for the latter event — most recently, Honeysuckle took the win at both in 2022. This Grade 1 race is run over a distance of roughly two miles with eight hurdles to be jumped. Hurricane Fly has seen most success on the course, racking up an impressive five consecutive wins between 2011 and 2015. State Man took the win in 2023, putting an end to Honeysuckle’s three-year streak. 

Irish Arkle Novice Chase

Open to horses aged five or older, the Irish Arkle Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase run over two miles and one furlong, with 11 fences in total. Previously known as the Milltown Novice Chase, it was later retitled the Arkle Novice Chase, paying tribute to the 1963 winner of the same name. El Fabiolo won the 2023 instalment and went on to take first place in the British counterpart, the Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham.

Savills Chase

The Savills Chase is held on the penultimate day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. Run over roughly three miles, it’s a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase with 17 fences to be jumped. The name comes from the race’s sponsor, the British real estate company Savills. Conflated won the 2022 event, ridden by jockey Jack Kennedy.

Irish Champion Stakes

Crown jewel of the Irish Champions Festival in September and the most prestigious race at Leopardstown, the Irish Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race of one mile and two furlongs. It’s somewhat of a proving ground, with winning horses often succeeding at subsequent races like the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the Champion Stakes at Ascot, and the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Luxembourg won in 2022, ridden by Ryan Moore.

Matron Stakes

Just a mile in length, the Matron Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race. It’s open to thoroughbred fillies and mares at least three years old. Taking place in September, the race is part of the Irish Champions Festival. Pearls Galore was first across the line in 2022. 

Top Leopardstown Betting Sites

Any betting site worth its salt will accept bets on Leopardstown horse racing, but here are some of our favourites. 

Paddy Power

Paddy Power are synonymous with Irish racing and few betting sites can compete with them in terms of special offers, free bets and market range at Leopardstown. For the Dublin Racing Festival be sure to check out their myriad of specials, including a jockey sweepstake, a free bet to use at the track and a belter of a new customer offer revolving around Willie Mullins.

Betfair

First becoming a household name due to their innovative exchange offering, Betfair have successfully branched out to become one of Britain and Ireland's biggest sportsbooks and their offering at Leopardstown is one of the best around. For this weekend's upcoming Dublin Racing Festival, be sure to check out their superboosts as well as their Rachael Blackmore centred new customer offer.

Betfred

Along with standard promotions like BOG and extra place payouts for Leopardstown, Betfred stands out from the pack with a more unique offering. Here, bettors can receive boosted payouts on ‘all correct’ Lucky 15, 31, and 63 bets, and boosted odds if just one of their selections wins. 

Payment Options For Leopardstown Betting

To bet on Leopardstown racing, you’ll need some money in your bookmaker account. Our recommended sites offer plenty of ways to deposit and withdraw — here are some popular choices among UK punters.

Debit Cards

If you want to stick with a method you know and trust, debit cards are a great choice. They’re simple to use for both deposits and withdrawals — simply enter the card details and away you go. They’re always eligible when claiming horse racing betting bonuses too. The main drawback is the withdrawal speed, with most payouts taking around 3–5 days to arrive in your bank account.

e-Wallets

Looking for a more full-featured solution for managing your betting budget? An e-wallet like PayPal, Skrill, or Neteller could be a solid choice. These services can be linked to cards and bank accounts, allowing you to make payments using just your registered email and password. They can also hold a balance, so it’s easy to keep your bankroll separate from your day-to-day funds. Another benefit is the fast withdrawals, which usually land within 24 hours. Keep in mind e-wallets are often excluded when claiming betting offers.

Paysafecard

Paysafecard is a prepaid voucher that can be bought in stores and used for sportsbook deposits. Simply purchase a voucher from £10 to £175 and use the printed 16-digit code to transfer the balance to your betting wallet. There’s no exchange of personal information necessary, so the method is highly secure. It’s also handy for carefully managing your spending. The primary drawback is Paysafecard can rarely be used for withdrawals, and where it is available you’ll need to register an account.

Trustly

Another option at Leopardstown betting sites is Trustly, a payments intermediary that runs on Open Banking. All you have to do is log into the secure portal with your online banking credentials, and from there you can make instant deposits and withdrawals at your chosen bookie. The service is free to use and doesn’t require an additional account. 

History Of Leopardstown Racecourse

Leopardstown’s history dates back over 100 years. The course, modelled on Sandown Park racecourse in England, was built by Captain George Quin and completed in 1888. The oval track has a total distance of one mile and six furlongs. It’s left-handed, with an uphill finishing straight. In 1967, Leopardstown racecourse was acquired by Horse Racing Ireland. HRI is the All-Ireland governing body of horse racing and controls 26 courses in total.

Today, Leopardstown offers a roster of quality flat and jump racing, with 23 race days across the year. New events have been added over the years. A few noteworthy examples include the Irish Champion Hurdle established in 1950, the Irish Champion Stakes introduced in 1976, and the Irish Gold Cup, which first ran in 1987. Many of Leopardstown’s races also act as key trials for Cheltenham Festival, which takes place annually in March. 

Alongside racing, Leopardstown plays host to the annual Bulmers Live at Leopardstown festival, combining eight days of thrilling flat racing with top notch live music. There is also an 18-hole golf course situated within the centre of the track. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Leopardstown