Trainer Elliott Takes 2 Grade One Leopardstown Wins

Published


27 December 2025


Trainer Gordon Elliott claimed 2 Grade One wins as part of a four-timer on the 2nd day of the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday, with jockey Sam Ewing also winning 2 of the major races.


Elliott-trained Favori De Champdou fought back under Ewing to beat stablemate Search for Glory to win the Paddy Power Chase after Skylight Hustle had previously won the Novices Hurdle for Elliott, with Jack Kennedy the triumphant jockey on that occasion.


Solness, ridden by Ewing, took success for trainer Joseph O'Brien in the Club Chase Steeplechase in the other Grade One race of the day over the Irish course.


Solness (8-1) repeated his victory of 12 months earlier in the very same race as he edged out (2-1) by half a length.


The two horses were included in an exhilarating four-way battle at the front as they jumped the final fence, with Ewing's install proving an effective frontrunner for trainer O'Brien.


Having his first race of the season, Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale conquered the problem of striking the 3rd of the 11 fences, with jockey Sean Flanagan succeeding to stay in the saddle and then get his horse into contention on the encounter.


"He's hard as nails and he enjoys racing at Leopardstown," winning trainer O'Brien told RTE after the race.


Pre-race favourite Majborough (6-4) ended up third.


Meanwhile Skylight Hustle took complete advantage after Talk The Talk fell at the final fence to clinch a success in the two-mile Novices Hurdle, the fallen horse having actually landed too steeply and unable to keep his balance.


Kennedy had actually moved the eventual winner stylishly into contention but his mount looked reserved for second when Joseph O'Brien's challenger sped up impressively to lead by half a length going to the last.


Ewing, who stepped in for the concussed JJ Slevin was on board Talk The Talk, so might have been in line for an impressive three Grade One victories in a day, having ridden Favori De Champou and Solness to victory.


Skylight Hustle, the 3-1 preferred, came home with 5 lengths to spare over Carrigmoornaspruce (12-1), with Love Me Tender (4-1) in third.


"The horse took a trip like a dream the entire method and leapt like a buck," Elliott told RTE after watching his horse Skylight Hustle pass the winning post.


"I believed taking a look at it live that we were beat, but when I took a look at the re-run, I wasn't sure [with] the way my lad galloped from the last to the line.


"Jack said when he can be found in 'I can't guarantee I would have won but I definitely wasn't beat'. He said he actually liked the way he went from the last to the line.


"It occurred to us yesterday [when El Cairos fell when in front at the last] but that's why it's called jump racing.


"He's an excellent horse and I think he'll stay even more too. I 'd envision he'll come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival."


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