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 second day of the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday, with jockey Sam Ewing likewise winning two of the significant races.
Elliott-trained Favori De Champdou fought back under Ewing to Search for Glory to win the Paddy Power Chase after Skylight Hustle had earlier won the Novices Hurdle for Elliott, with Jack Kennedy the triumphant jockey on that event.
Solness, ridden by Ewing, took victory 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 triumph of 12 months earlier in the very same race as he edged out Marine Nationale (2-1) by half a length.
The two horses were associated with an exhilarating four-way battle at the front as they leapt the final fence, with Ewing's mount proving an efficient frontrunner for trainer O'Brien.
Having his very first race of the season, Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale overcame the setback of striking the 3rd of the 11 fences, with jockey Sean Flanagan doing well to stay in the saddle and then get his horse into contention on the encounter.
"He's tough as nails and he likes racing at Leopardstown," winning trainer O'Brien told RTE after the race.
Pre-race preferred 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 landed too steeply and unable to keep his balance.
Kennedy had moved the eventual winner stylishly into contention but his mount looked scheduled for second when Joseph O'Brien's opposition accelerated impressively to lead by half a length going to the last.
Ewing, who actioned in for the concussed JJ Slevin was on board Talk The Talk, so might have been in line for an exceptional three Grade One success in a day, having ridden Favori De Champou and Solness to triumph.
Skylight Hustle, the 3-1 favourite, got home with five lengths to spare over Carrigmoornaspruce (12-1), with Love Me Tender (4-1) in third.
"The horse travelled like a dream the entire method and jumped like a dollar," Elliott told RTE after watching his horse Skylight Hustle pass the winning post.
"I thought looking at it live that we were beat, however when I looked at the re-run, I wasn't sure [with] the way my lad galloped from the last to the line.
"Jack stated when he came in 'I can't ensure I would have won but I absolutely wasn't beat'. He stated he actually liked the method he went from the last to the line.
"It took place to us yesterday [when El Cairos fell when in front at the last] however that's why it's called dive racing.
"He's a good horse and I think he'll stay even more as well. I 'd imagine he'll return here for the Dublin Racing Festival."
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