Leopardstown's attendance for the Dublin Racing Festival will be capped at 18,500, with all tickets requiring pre-booking. This decision comes as the racecourse navigates a logistical challenge posed by the simultaneous Ireland-England rugby international taking place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Leopardstown 's attendance for the Dublin Racing Festival will be capped at 18,500, with all tickets requiring pre-booking. This decision comes as the racecourse navigates a logistical challenge posed by the simultaneous Ireland-England rugby international at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on the same day as the festival's Saturday programme.
Tim Husbands, Leopardstown's chief executive, acknowledged the potential impact of the rugby clash but emphasized that they are aiming to capitalize on the opportunity by encouraging spectators to experience both sporting events. He highlighted that 70 percent of ticket sales for such events typically occur in the final three weeks, revealing a significant influx of interest closer to the date.Last year's Dublin Racing Festival, the seventh edition of the event, witnessed a dominant performance by champion trainer Willie Mullins, who saddled nine out of the 15 winners. This included an unprecedented clean sweep of all eight Grade One races. With a remarkable 47 entries for next month's top-flight races, Mullins is on track to shatter his previous record of 47 Grade One wins at the festival. His formidable record includes a century of Grade One victories at the Cheltenham Festival last year.The Irish Champion Hurdle on day two of the festival promises a thrilling potential head-to-head between Mullins' star mare Lossiemouth and Elliott's Brighterdaysahead. Lossiemouth, despite her loss to Constitution Hill at Kempton over Christmas, currently holds a slight edge in favoritism for the Leopardstown contest. Meanwhile, the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown is expected to shed light on the pecking order for Cheltenham's Queen Mother Champion Chase. Marine Nationale, likely to face off against Gaelic Warrior once again, is poised to make a strong showing after his impressive performance at Christmas. Barry Connell, Marine Nationale's owner/trainer, expressed confidence in his horse's progress, emphasizing his improved jumping and overall fitness.
Dublin Racing Festival Leopardstown Attendance Rugby Willie Mullins Lossiemouth Irish Champion Hurdle
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