The Ladbrokes Dublin Chase 2026, over 2m1f on Sunday, February 1st, looks like one of those races where you could make a perfectly sensible case for three different winners and still end up being wrong.
It’s a small but classy six‑runner field, all of them also entered in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, which tells you how serious this is as a trial.
Leopardstown’s two‑mile chase track asks for rhythm, bravery, and just enough common sense not to attack every fence like it insulted your mother, so we should learn plenty about the current pecking order in the division.
At the top of the market, Majborough is only narrowly shading favouritism with plenty of bookmakers, with Marine Nationale breathing down his neck and Solness close behind again.
Honestly, this feels about right for a race that looks more like a triangle than a straight line.
The rest – Energumene, Found A Fifty, and Senecia – may be bigger prices, but they’re not just here to make up the numbers and will happily pick up the pieces if the main trio get involved in an early duel.
2026 Dublin Chase Runners & Odds
*Odds from Betfred and correct at time of publishing
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Nationale | Sean Flanagan | Barry Connell | 15/8 |
| Majborough | Mark Walsh | W P Mullins | 2/1 |
| Solness | J J Slevin | Joseph Patrick O’Brien | 9/2 |
| Found A Fifty | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott | 13/2 |
| Energumene | Paul Townend | W P Mullins | 9/1 |
| Senecia | Phillip Enright | Vincent Laurence Halley | 150/1 |
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Majborough – Edging Ahead In The Betting
Majborough, from Willie Mullins, generally sits at the head of the betting (switching back and forth with Marine Nationale) more because of what he might do than what he’s already done, which is often the most dangerous kind of favourite.
Still relatively lightly raced over fences, he’s shown enough class to suggest he belongs at this level, winning at Leopardstown in a Grade 1 as a novice.
The interesting thing with Majborough is that you get the sense we haven’t seen his ceiling yet.
Marine Nationale – Proven Class
If Majborough represents potential, Marine Nationale, from Barry Connell, represents cold, hard proven class.
A Cheltenham Festival Champion Chase winner and already a Grade 1 hero over fences, he brings a strong body of form to the table and has shown he can perform under pressure when it really matters.
His style is usually to sit handy, jump quickly, and then pick up off the home turn, which makes him very dangerous around Leopardstown, where races can change shape quickly once they swing for home.
The slight question with Marine Nationale is whether his sometimes “all‑in” jumping style will stand up if this turns into a properly aggressive run race from flagfall.
Solness – The Solid Third Angle
Solness is the third point of the triangle and probably the one who will appeal most to people who enjoy being a bit clever without getting too wild.
He’s already shown really smart form at two miles, handles Leopardstown, and has an attitude that suggests he’ll dig in when it gets serious rather than disappearing when asked a hard question.
What makes Solness interesting is that he might just get the ideal race setup here.
If Majborough and Marine Nationale end up worrying about each other, Solness is the type who can stalk them, jump away without fuss, and be delivered late when the others are starting to feel their efforts.
The Rest Of The Field – Lurking Dangers
It says something about the depth here that Energumene can be mentioned under “the rest of the field”.
Once the dominant force in the two‑mile chase scene, he’s now firmly in the veteran phase, with form figures that suggest he’s not as bomb‑proof as he once was.
But he still retains a chunk of ability, and Leopardstown’s 2m1f could let him cruise into the race before his stamina starts to ebb.
If the big three fluff their lines, nobody will be overly shocked if he’s the one rolling back the years.
Found A Fifty is a tough, likeable sort who usually gives you a run for your money and has the handy combination of course form and a straightforward racing style.
He may just lack the final gear of the top trio, but if this turns tactical or one of them underperforms, he’s exactly the type who can sneak into the frame.
Senecia is a bigger price again, but brings enough form and experience to pick up the pieces if chaos reigns – and over two miles at this level, chaos is always at least invited, even if it doesn’t always turn up.
Three Ways To Be Right (or wrong)
From a punting perspective, this is the sort of race that can tie your brain in a neat little knot.
You can absolutely make a case for Majborough on the grounds of upside, for Marine Nationale on proven top‑level form, and for Solness on the balance of solid progression and likely value.
That’s before you even start wondering whether the old warrior Energumene might suddenly remember who he is, or whether Found A Fifty might grind his way into the argument late.
One sensible approach is to decide which narrative you believe most. If you’re a believer in raw potential, Majborough is your horse.
If you prefer battle‑hardened class, you probably side with Marine Nationale.
If you like the idea of being slightly against the crowd but not completely on an island, Solness each‑way or in without‑the‑favourite markets makes a lot of sense.
This is not a race that screams “lump on”; it’s more a case of small stakes, strong opinions, and the acceptance that there are at least three very realistic ways to be both brilliant and completely wrong.
A Proper Champion Chase Trial
What makes the Dublin Chase 2026 so appealing is that it feels like an authentic Champion Chase preview rather than a procession.
All six runners are also in the Queen Mother at Cheltenham, the front three in the market all have legitimate claims to division‑leading status, and the supporting cast are good enough to punish any slip‑ups.
Whoever comes out on top here will take a serious step forward in the pecking order, but the manner of the race might tell us just as much as the result.
For fans, it’s the kind of contest you look forward to all weekend: a sharp trip, classy horses, and no single runner so dominant that you can relax before they line up.
Whether you’re Team Majborough, Team Marine Nationale, or quietly flying the flag for Solness, the Dublin Chase looks set to be one of those races where the replay gets watched a few times – by punters, trainers, and Champion Chase bookmakers alike.
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