The running form has been analysed and the betting is intense, although no money has changed hands.
So as the south Dublin Leopardstown race meeting got under way yesterday, there was some speculation that the politicians present might have some inside knowledge on the result of the race to be known in January.
But no such luck. Only one man knows who will be first past the post and he is not saying. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will name the new junior minister to replace Ivor Callely next month.
Ireland's EU Commissioner, Charlie McCreevy, a regular racegoer, was very relaxed as he said he was still "aware" of politics here from his base in Brussels. And he is home every weekend.
He had no tips on yesterday's races to offer the media, but he made it clear that he will not be cantering back to domestic politics when he finishes his term in Europe. "It is no more than speculation by half-cracked journalists who need something to write about," he declared.
The long queue of punters to the Banklink machine seemed to indicate that the economy, fashioned to a degree by Mr McCreevy, is still booming.
The record St Stephen's Day attendance of 18,332 was 2,500 up on last year. Bookmaker-betting yielded €1.4 million, an increase of €180,000 on last year, while the tote's take-in was €544,906, up €33,000.
Meanwhile, Bono, fresh from his success of having made the cover of Time magazine, arrived in a modest family saloon car, as if to tone down his image of an international star.
He obliged the battery of photographers by putting a protective arm around his wife, Ali Hewson, but stopped short of their request to give her a seasonal kiss.
Sporting a cowboy hat and the standard shades, he remarked: "You can't art direct me in bed."
The aroma of burgers, chips, hot dogs and steak sandwiches filled the chilly air. The stand was filled to overflowing for many of the races, but less hardy souls opted for the hot port and the big screen in the bar.
Among those observed in the large crowd were Minister for Social and Family Affairs Séamus Brennan, Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt, Labour TD Joan Burton, former Fine Gael minister for defence Seán Barrett and former Olympic medallist Ronnie Delaney.
Meanwhile, backbenchers feeling a little despondent this week about their chances of the junior ministerial job should, perhaps, take heart from the note in the racecard about Missed That, winner of the feature race, the €100,000 novice steeplechase.
"Remains up against it, and could come into his own," it observed.