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2026 Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Preview
The Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle is scheduled to take place in February of each year during the Dublin Racing Festival at the Leopardstown racecourse. The race is open to runners aged five or older who started the season as novices over hurdles, with it run over a trip of two miles and six furlongs.
The race was created in 1999 with the original title being in dedication to Golden Cygnet, a former Edward O'Grady runner. It was previously run over two miles and four furlongs and was given Grade 3 status in 2003, upgraded to Grade 2 in 2008 and then upgraded again in 2018 to Grade 1.
For sponsorship purposes, the 2026 renewal of the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle will hold the title of 'Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle'.
Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Information:
- Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Past Winners
- Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Trainer Statistics
- Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Jockey Statistics
Why not use the trends shortlist below to help you narrow down the field and then head over to the dedicated Leopardstown tips page to see which runners are being supported by the OLBG expert racing tipsters to find yourself a bet? You may also be interested in other preview blogs that we have packed full of information. Head down to the Races Covered during the Dublin Racing Festival section for links to these.
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites 2026
How competitive is the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2011 when the race had an over-round of 112%. The race in 2019 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 131%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle, the over-round has been 119%, which means the bookie expects to pay out ÂŁ100 for every ÂŁ119 which is bet.
Below you will find the 2026 Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Trends. See which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal. We also have a section that looks at the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Trend Analysis. With the field now finalised, we have the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Trend Shortlist, which is created using the listed trends.
These are the top three quickest-run Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle races over the last 20 renewals:
- Lets Dance (4:41.00) in 2017
- Kazal (4:58.50) in 2007
- Hidden Cyclone (4:59.40) in 2011
Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? Over the past 20 renewals, if you had followed the winner of the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle next time out, then you would have backed a total of 5 winners. Backing all 20 runners who have been out since their win at SP next time out would have returned an LSP of +1.51. Whilst we wait for the 2026 Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle, remember you can get daily racing predictions from the expert tipsters on the racing predictions page.
When looking over the past 20 renewals, a time of 4:41.00 was set by Lets Dance in 2017, trained by W P Mullins and ridden by R Walsh, which is the quickest time over that period. The slowest winning time was set in 2024 when Dancing City won in a time of 5:52.20 for trainer W P Mullins, who booked Danny Mullins in the saddle.
What the expert says...
Andy Powell - Horse Racing Betting Expert - OLBG.com
Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Past Winners
Here are the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the year of the race, the horse which won, along with the age & weight of the horse. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.
| Year | Horse | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 5:39.20 | Final Demand (IRE) 6yo 11-10 11/8F | Paul Townend W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2024 5:52.20 | Dancing City (FR) 7yo 11-10 16/1 | Danny Mullins W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2023 5:22.80 | Good Land (FR) 7yo 11-10 3/1F | Michael O'Sullivan Barry Connell (IRE) |
| 2022 5:40.60 | Minella Cocooner (IRE) 6yo 11-10 11/1 | Danny Mullins W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2021 5:45.40 | Gaillard Du Mesnil (FR) 5yo 11-10 13/8F | Paul Townend W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2020 5:32.70 | Latest Exhibition (IRE) 7yo 11-10 7/2 | B J Cooper Paul Nolan (IRE) |
| 2019 5:20.90 | Commander Of Fleet (IRE) 5yo 11-8 13/2 | Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2018 5:48.20 | Tower Bridge (IRE) 5yo 11-8 25/1 | J J Slevin Joseph Patrick O'Brien (IRE) |
| 2017 4:41.00 | Lets Dance (FR) 5yo 10-10 8/11F | R Walsh W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2016 5:05.90 | A Toi Phil (FR) 6yo 11-3 6/4F | B J Cooper W P Mullins (IRE) |
Where have the winning runners come from?
Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle have been based:
- IRE: 20 winners with an additional 29 placings from 162 runners
- GB: 0 winners with an additional 0 placings from 1 runner
2025 Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Replay
Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Trainer Statistics
The leading trainer in the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle over the last 20 renewals is W P Mullins, who has won the race ten times, with those ten winners coming from Boston Bob (2012), Pont Alexandre (2013), Sure Reef (2014), Outlander (2015), A Toi Phil (2016), Lets Dance (2017), Gaillard Du Mesnil (2021), Minella Cocooner (2022), Dancing City (2024) and Final Demand (2025). There is one trainer who has not had the best of times in the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle; Henry De Bromhead has sent a total of 14 runners to the race without recording any wins.
Here are the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals for trainers who have entries in the 2026 renewal; those not listed have not had a runner. (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| W P Mullins | 39-10-16 | +13.31 | +2.68 |
| Gordon Elliott | 15-1-5 | -7.50 | -5.83 |
| Henry De Bromhead | 14-0-2 | -14.00 | -11.40 |
| Declan Queally | 1-0-1 | -1.00 | +0.70 |
Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Jockey Statistics
The leading jockey in the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle over the last 20 renewals is Paul Townend, who has won the race three times, with those three winners coming from Outlander (2015), Gaillard Du Mesnil (2021) and Final Demand (2025).
Here are the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals for jockeys who have rides in the 2026 renewal; those not listed have not had a runner. (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Townend (Doctor Steinberg) | 11-3-6 | +0.01 | -0.19 |
| J J Slevin (Yeshil) | 5-1-1 | +21.00 | +11.63 |
| Jack Kennedy (Kazansky) | 5-1-2 | +2.50 | +0.17 |
| Mark Walsh (Love Me Tender) | 3-0-1 | -3.00 | -2.50 |
| Sean O'Keeffe (Tackletommywoowoo) | 2-0-1 | -2.00 | -1.05 |
| Danny Gilligan (Riskaway) | 1-0-1 | -1.00 | +0.30 |
| Jordan Gainford (Jalon dOudairies) | 1-0-0 | -1.00 | -1.00 |
2026 Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Trends
Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): 1, 2, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, (1, 3), 5, 1, 1, 7, 5, 4, 1, 3, 1, 2, 1
The percentage shown is the percentage of the total number of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones, as you would expect them to do well.
- 20 / 20 (82%) - Ran in 1 - 4 races (Season)
- 20 / 20 (83%) - No bigger than 10/1 (Career Win)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - Achieved an RPR of 124+ (Season)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - Within the first 7 of the market
- 20 / 20 (85%) - Achieved an RPR of 124+ (Career)
- 20 / 20 (85%) - Off a break of 21 - 62 days
- 20 / 20 (85%) - In a field of 4 - 20 (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (85%) - No bigger than 25/1
- 20 / 20 (87%) - Had 1 - 3 placings (Season)
- 20 / 20 (87%) - No bigger than 6/1 (Last Win)
- 18 / 20 (73%) - No bigger than 20/1 (Career)
- 17 / 20 (66%) - No bigger than 9/2 (LTO)
- 17 / 20 (88%) - No more than +7lbs (Vs Min Weight)
- 16 / 20 (62%) - No bigger than 10/1 (Career Place)
- 16 / 20 (66%) - Achieved a TS of 72+ (LTO)
Remember to use the trends listed above, along with the Leopardstown racing predictions, to see if you can find the winner of the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle. Did you know that we have an OLBG Betting School section on OLBG? It is a place to help you improve your betting experience with articles covering numerous topics.
Are you already a member? If not, then why not? With over ÂŁ6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, it is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then share your thoughts on the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle by adding a tip on the race here.
101 Ways to find Winners in Horse Racing
Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Trend Shortlist
Leopardstown will host the 2026 renewal of the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle, which will be run at 1:15 pm on Monday, 2nd February 2026, and these are the runners who perform best based on the trends, along with the trainer and jockey and their record in the race (Runs-Wins-Places Win LSP / EW LSP):
- 15/15 Jalon d'Oudairies (16/1)
- Gordon Elliott (15-1-5 -7.50 / -5.83)
- Jordan Gainford (1-0-0 -1.00 / -1.00)
- 15/15 Santo Sospir (6/1)
- Gordon Elliott (15-1-5 -7.50 / -5.83)
- Sean Bowen (0-0-0 0.00 / 0.00)
Others: Doctor Steinberg (14/15), Kazansky (14/15), Riskaway (14/15), Love Me Tender (14/15), Tackletommywoowoo (10/15), Frankie John (9/15) and Yeshil (8/15).
*Trainer & Jockey numbers are Runs-Wins-Places Win LSP / EW LSP, Runners, Odds and Trends Passed/Failed correct at the time of posting (11:18 am Friday 30th January 2026), if no odds were available at the time of posting, then forecasted odds are used.
Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Trend Analysis
â The trend factor, which has produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +41.20, is when runners had 2 career starts in Jumps (Hurdle) races.
â The worst performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners had 1 career place over further, when backing these, the trend shows a record of 0-24.
The course which has produced the most winners of the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle is Leopardstown; there have been a total of 8 winners of this race who ran at Leopardstown last time out. The next best course, which has produced the second most winners, is Navan; there have been a total of 6 winners of this race who ran at Navan last time out.
The race is open to both sexes, with male runners having produced a total of 18 winners from a total of 150 runners, while female runners have produced 2 winners from a total of 13 runners.
Looking over the past renewals, these are the stallions whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle:
- Bob Back (2 Wins)
- Stowaway (2 Wins)
These are the stallions whose offspring have not produced a winner of the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle despite multiple attempts:
- Old Vic (0 Wins from 6 runners)
- Beneficial (0 Wins from 5 runners)
- Shantou (0 Wins from 5 runners)
Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Tower Bridge in 2018, winning for Joseph Patrick O'Brien at odds of 25/1 under the guidance of J J Slevin. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals, there have been 10 winning favourites in the race. Before placing your bet on the 2026 Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle, head over to see which runners the best racing tipsters are tipping today.
Route to the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle
Many trainers target races as preparation for the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle. These are the races which the recent winners ran in before coming here:
| Info | Last Race |
|---|---|
| 2025 - Final Demand Limerick - 1st of 11 (4/7) | CUBE Maiden Hurdle |
| 2024 - Dancing City Navan - 1st of 10 (9/4) | BetVictor Proud To Support Irish Racing Maiden Hurdle |
| 2023 - Good Land Leopardstown - 1st of 12 (9/2) | Pigsback.com Maiden Hurdle |
| 2022 - Minella Cocooner Navan - 1st of 16 (3/10) | Mervyn Gray Construction Maiden Hurdle |
| 2021 - Gaillard Du Mesnil Leopardstown - 1st of 20 (11/8) | Tote.ie Maiden Hurdle |
| 2020 - Latest Exhibition Navan - 1st of 4 (9/2) | Navan Novice Hurdle |
| 2019 - Commander Of Fleet Fairyhouse - 4th of 4 (3/1) | Royal Bond Novice Hurdle |
| 2018 - Tower Bridge Leopardstown - 4th of 15 (20/1) | attheraces.com Maiden Hurdle |
| 2017 - Lets Dance Leopardstown - 1st of 5 (1/3) | Willis Towers Watson European Breeders Fund Mares Hurdle |
| 2016 - A Toi Phil Leopardstown - 1st of 7 (7/2) | Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle |
Races Covered during the Dublin Racing Festival
Remember to head over to the Leopardstown predictions page to see which runner the racing tipsters are supporting in the Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle, and don't forget we also cover the following races at the Dublin Racing Festival.
| Races - Day 1 (Saturday) | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle | Final Demand (IRE) 6yo - 11/8 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| Irish Arkle Novice Chase | Majborough (FR) 5yo - 8/11 | W P Mullins Mark Walsh |
| Irish Gold Cup | Galopin Des Champs (FR) 9yo - 1/2 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| Spring Juvenile Hurdle | Hello Neighbour (IRE) 4yo - 85/40 | Gavin Cromwell Keith Donoghue |
| Races - Day 2 (Sunday) | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin Chase | Solness (FR) 7yo - 6/1 | Joseph Patrick O'Brien Danny Mullins |
| Dublin Racing Festival Handicap Chase | Backtonormal (IRE) 7yo - 11/4 | Gavin Cromwell Conor Stone-Walsh |
| Dublin Racing Festival Handicap Hurdle | McLaurey (IRE) 6yo - 3/1 | Emmet Mullins Mark Walsh |
| Irish Champion Hurdle | State Man (FR) 8yo - 5/4 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| Ladbrokes Novice Chase | Ballyburn (IRE) 7yo - 8/13 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle | Kopek Des Bordes (FR) 5yo - 4/5 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
Article Contributor Information
We are fortunate to have an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to the creation and maintenance of this Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Preview are Andy and Darren. They both work on the Horse Racing Tips team, overseeing the tipsters and managing the tip settlement, while also creating and managing all the horse racing event previews for National Hunt Racing.
Darren Brett
Expert Guide
Andy Powell
Expert Guide
Other Principal Races at the Leopardstown Racecourse
Here are some other notable races at the Leopardstown racecourse throughout the racing season that you may be interested in.
Races in September (Irish Champions Festival)
- Champions Juvenile Stakes
- Irish Champion Stakes
- Matron Stakes
- Petingo Handicap
- Solonaway Stakes
- Sovereign Path Handicap
