Leopardstown New Year Racing Meeting 2027 is one of the most keenly anticipated fixtures in the Irish racing calendar. This guide covers the main betting markets, ante-post strategy and what Irish punters should know before backing at this meeting.
About the Meeting
The Leopardstown New Year meeting provides Grade 1 and Grade 2 jumps racing in the days immediately following Christmas, often running into the first days of January. It serves as a final tune-up before horses are aimed at the Dublin Racing Festival and Cheltenham, and the results often clarify the market for spring Grade 1 races. The Irish Gold Cup trial and champion hurdle prep races are the highlights.
Main Betting Markets
- Race-by-race match betting: Standard win and each-way markets on every race across the meeting.
- Ante-post feature race: Pre-meeting markets on the flagship race — typically the Grade 1 or Group 1 highlight. These open weeks in advance and offer better prices than race-day markets at the cost of non-runner risk.
- Top trainer / jockey: Which trainer or jockey sends out the most winners across the meeting — popular novelty markets at multi-day festivals.
- Each-way betting: Most bookmakers offer 4 places at 1/4 odds for large-field handicaps and 3 places for smaller fields. Always check terms before placing.
Ante-Post Betting Strategy
Ante-post prices for feature races open weeks or months before the meeting. The best value typically comes 4–8 weeks before the race, once the likely field takes shape but before market leaders attract significant money. Non-runner risk is real — always check whether the bookmaker offers non-runner money back for the specific market before placing.
Responsible Betting at Racing Festivals
Multi-day meetings can generate significant cumulative betting spend. Set a daily budget before each day of the festival and treat it as your maximum regardless of earlier results. Contact the Gambling Awareness Trust at 1800 753 753 or visit gamblingcare.ie. 18+ only.
GRAI remote betting licence in force. 18+ only, T&Cs apply.
Compare Betting Odds →Frequently Asked Questions
Leopardstown New Year Meeting 2027: Race Card Overview
| Race | Grade | Distance | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leopardstown Chase | Grade 1 | 3m | Chase |
| Irish Gold Cup Trial | Grade 2 | 3m | Chase |
| Deloitte Novice Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m | Hurdle |
| Flogas Novice Chase | Grade 1 | 2.5m | Chase |
Why This Meeting Matters for Cheltenham Betting
The Leopardstown New Year meeting (typically January 1–2) is one of Ireland's most important National Hunt fixtures of the season. Grade 1 races here serve as direct Cheltenham Festival trials — winners and placed horses often feature in the market for the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, and Arkle. Ante-post Cheltenham prices frequently move significantly after this meeting.
- Going: Leopardstown in January is usually soft or heavy — form here is most relevant for horses heading to Cheltenham's often-testing ground
- Cheltenham connection: monitor the Deloitte winner for the Supreme Novices, the Flogas winner for the Arkle, and the Leopardstown Chase for the Gold Cup
- Ante-post value: if a Cheltenham favourite runs poorly here, their festival price may drift — worth watching for value on rivals
Ante-post betting offers better prices than race-day markets but carries non-runner risk. If your selection is withdrawn before the race, most ante-post bets are lost unless non-runner money-back is offered. For feature races with strong ante-post markets, check terms carefully before placing.
Standard each-way terms at Irish racecourses are typically 4 places at 1/4 odds for races with 8 or more runners. Terms vary by race type and field size — handicaps often offer better each-way terms than conditions races. Always check with your bookmaker before placing.
Yes — all major horse racing betting in Ireland is covered by GRAI-licensed bookmakers. The GRAI licence No. GRAI-0191-RB-26-0001 covers remote betting operations including horse racing markets for Irish punters.
In-play betting during individual horse races is not widely available as races last only a few minutes. However, some bookmakers offer in-running markets for longer races. Pre-race in-play markets on the day of racing offer improved information over ante-post prices.