Leopardstown passed fit for racing today The Dublin Racing Festival (DRF) gets underway 24 hours later than originally planned after the course at Leopardstown was passed fit for racing following an early morning inspection. The clash between Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead takes centre stage with the Timeless Sash Windows Irish Champion Hurdle the feature on an eight-race card beginning at 12.40. The two star mares have a much-anticipated rematch after filling the first two places here at Christmas while Anzadam and El Fabiolo are also among the six declared. The €200,000 highlight is one of four Grade 1 events on the card with a total of €1,150,000 in prizemoney up for grabs today. Clerk of the Course Paddy Graffin reported this morning, “I’m pleased to say the track has passed its inspection and racing goes ahead. Thankfully for once this week the rain gods have been good to us. “The hurdle track remains heavy. It is loose, sloppy ground and not holding in any way which is favourable. The chase course is soft. “In relation to tomorrow’s racing, I haven’t had a chance to look at a different hurdle line for tomorrow and will give an update when I get a chance to get a look at it in daylight.” Day one of the DRF was cancelled yesterday as the track was found to be unfit for racing due to waterlogging and has now been rescheduled to Monday. The €250,000 Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup is the highlight on that seven-race card with Galopin Des Champs facing 12 rivals as he bids to win the three-mile event for a fourth successive year. The meeting at Punchestown originally scheduled for Monday will now take place on Wednesday February 4 with declarations to run made tomorrow morning.
