Home Horse Racing Leopardstown Horse Racing Tips: Sunday, 18th October 2026

Leopardstown Horse Racing Tips: Sunday, 18th October 2026

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Below you will find the best tips for Leopardstown for today’s racing. Simply scroll down to make the most of your Leopardstown racing day. Enjoy the racing and good luck.

15:42 Leopardstown

1m2f Trigo Stakes (Listed Race) (3yo+)

Best Value Race
Date: 18 Oct 2026 Race: Flat Turf, Listed, Going: Good, Runners: 10, Each way terms: 1/5 1-3 Going: Good Runners: 10 EW: 1/5 1-3
HorseOddsRunner verdict
Come What May 8/11 Unbeaten at Leopardstown and shaped well over 1m4f at Naas, likely doing too much early. Dropping back to 1m2f should suit, making her the standout in form and class.
Diego El Queso 5/1 Consistent 4yo with solid official rating and decent recent form. Trainer G M Lyons has a moderate strike rate but the horse’s profile suggests a competitive run.
Hazdann 13/2 4yo with a good official rating and recent tip support. Trainer D K Weld has a strong strike rate, indicating potential to place or challenge.
Snellen 8/1 5yo mare with a solid strike rate and good recent ratings. Trainer Gavin Cromwell’s moderate strike rate and jockey W J Lee’s strong form add appeal.
Cowardofthecounty 12/1 4yo with consistent official ratings and decent recent form. Trainer Joseph Patrick O'Brien has a good strike rate, and the horse has received tip support, making it a strong contender.
Mr Vettori 12/1 3yo with moderate official rating and form. Trainer Mrs John Harrington has a lower strike rate, but the horse’s profile suggests it could be competitive at this level.
Moments Of Joy 33/1 3yo filly with limited recent form and high odds. Trainer A P O'Brien’s strike rate is strong but the horse’s form is less convincing for this race.
Sunchart 80/1 9yo with declining form and very high odds. Trainer and jockey strike rates are low, making this a long shot with little recent promise.
Alphecca 20/1 3yo filly with moderate official rating but limited recent form. Trainer Joseph G Murphy has a low strike rate, suggesting this is a speculative entry.
Nuit 125/1 4yo filly with poor recent form and very high odds. Trainer Henry De Bromhead has a moderate strike rate but the horse’s profile is weak for this contest.
Sanctijude 100/1 3yo filly with low official rating and poor recent form. Trainer W McCreery has a low strike rate, making this a rank outsider.

Race verdict

The verdict is with Hazdann. Hazdann appeals because 4yo with a good official rating and recent tip support. That makes Hazdann the runner to side with in the win market.

Best betHazdann
13/2

Hazdann appeals because 4yo with a good official rating and recent tip support. The 13/2 price adds enough appeal for a win-only bet.

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Odds subject to change

Today’s Horse Racing Top Odds Boosts

Betfred
12:55 Redcar: Iron Stone Lad, Kamille Au Kanada & Rogue Constelation
9/2 (was 7/2)
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14:25 Redcar - Hale End to Win
20/1 (was 18/1)
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Horse Racing Tips

Leopardstown Racecourse: Ireland’s Premier Dual-Purpose Venue

Situated at the foot of the Dublin Mountains and just six miles south of Dublin city centre, Leopardstown Racecourse stands as one of the most iconic venues in Irish racing. With a rich history dating back to 1888 and a modern reputation for hosting some of the sport’s most prestigious contests, it remains the heartbeat of both Flat and National Hunt racing in Ireland.

The track’s year-round calendar showcases the very best in equine athleticism, with 23 fixtures offering both Grade 1 jumping action and top-level Group racing on the Flat. Leopardstown is not only a sporting landmark but also a major entertainment venue, playing host to concerts and festivals as part of its wider appeal.


Course Layout & Track Characteristics

Flat Racing

  • Direction: Left-handed
  • Circuit Length: 1m 6f (around 2,800 metres)
  • Finishing Straight: Uphill, long, and testing
  • Configuration: Wide, galloping oval with sweeping bends

Leopardstown is considered a galloping and fair track, well suited to long-striding types that can maintain a rhythm and stay on strongly. The uphill finish adds a tactical layer, especially in strongly run races, where those with stamina reserves can claw back ground late.

While the bends are relatively gentle, positioning remains crucial — particularly on quicker ground where horses that can race prominently and travel well are often at an advantage. The track lends itself to clean, competitive racing with minimal draw bias over most distances.


National Hunt Racing

  • Direction: Left-handed
  • Chase Fences per Circuit: 8
  • Topography: Undulating with a steady climb to the line
  • Nature: Big, galloping track with emphasis on rhythm and stamina

The jumps course at Leopardstown is widely regarded as one of the best-balanced and most fair tracks in Ireland. The fences are stiff but fair, the layout allows for proper jumping tests, and the climb to the finish means that stamina and a touch of class are vital components in all divisions.

Horses that can hold a prominent position and jump economically tend to do well, particularly in large fields. Leopardstown also rewards course experience, and many top horses return to this track multiple times each season.


Major Festivals & Key Races

Leopardstown’s stature is underpinned by a schedule packed with elite contests:

Irish Champions Weekend (Flat)

  • Held: September
  • Feature Race: Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1)
    One of the highest-rated races in the world, regularly attracting European champions. Previous winners include Sea The Stars, Giant’s Causeway, and Snow Fairy.

Christmas Festival (National Hunt)

  • Held: 26–29 December
  • Features: Seven Grade 1 races, including the Savills Chase, Future Champions Novice Hurdle, and Lexus Chase (now rebranded).
    This four-day spectacle is a centrepiece of the Irish winter jumps calendar, drawing top horses from Ireland and Britain.

Dublin Racing Festival (National Hunt)

  • Held: February
  • Grade 1 Highlights: Irish Champion Hurdle, Irish Gold Cup, and Arkle Novice Chase
    Now established as a crucial pre-Cheltenham trial meeting, it showcases elite-level form in almost every division.

Other Notable Races

  • Matron Stakes (Group 1) – Run on Champions Weekend; top-level fillies’ contest
  • Hennessy Gold Cup (now Irish Gold Cup) – A stepping stone to Cheltenham’s blue riband
  • Foxrock Handicap Chase – A significant betting race in the lead-up to major spring targets

Tactical Betting Guide

  • Flat Racing Tips:
    Leopardstown favours strong travellers with a turn of foot, especially over 7f–1m races where pace and positioning are key. In staying contests, particularly when the ground is soft, stamina and class come to the fore. Note how horses handle the final turn — those able to quicken off the bend often get first run and prove difficult to catch.
  • National Hunt Tips:
    Watch for proven stayers with previous form at the track, particularly in testing conditions. Over fences, solid jumpers with the ability to race handily tend to hold sway. With the run-in being slightly uphill, it’s not uncommon for classy horses to outstay rivals late on — especially in novice company.
  • Trainers to Watch:
    • Willie Mullins dominates both the Christmas and Dublin Racing Festivals, often sending strong teams with multiple winners.
    • Gordon Elliott typically targets the Grade 1 novice events with his emerging stars.
    • Aidan O’Brien and Dermot Weld are key figures in the summer Group races, especially the Irish Champion Stakes and Matron Stakes.

A Venue of Prestige and Progress

From its 19th-century origins to its role today as a cornerstone of the global racing calendar, Leopardstown Racecourse has seamlessly blended heritage with modernity. Its dual-purpose design and commitment to excellence have helped it produce some of the sport’s most unforgettable moments.

Its role as a stepping stone to greatness — be it for Champion Hurdle contenders in January or Classic hopefuls in September — ensures that Leopardstown remains not just a fixture of Irish racing, but a stage on which future champions are made.

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