Trainer Elliott Takes 2 Grade One Leopardstown Wins

Published


27 December 2025


Trainer Gordon Elliott declared two 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 battled back under Ewing to beat stablemate 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 .


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


Solness (8-1) duplicated his success of 12 months back in the same race as he edged out Marine Nationale (2-1) by half a length.


The 2 horses were involved in an awesome four-way fight at the front as they leapt the final fence, with Ewing's install showing an effective frontrunner for fitness instructor O'Brien.


Having his very first race of the season, Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale got rid of the setback of hitting the third of the 11 fences, with jockey Sean Flanagan succeeding to stay in the saddle and after that get his horse into contention on the confrontation.


"He is difficult as nails and he loves racing at Leopardstown," winning fitness instructor O'Brien told RTE after the race.


Pre-race favourite Majborough (6-4) finished third.


Meanwhile Skylight Hustle took complete benefit 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 ultimate winner stylishly into contention however his mount looked booked for 2nd when Joseph O'Brien's challenger sped up remarkably 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 could have been in line for an impressive 3 Grade One triumphes in a day, having ridden Favori De Champou and Solness to victory.


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


"The horse travelled like a dream the whole way and leapt like a dollar," Elliott informed RTE after watching his horse Skylight Hustle pass the winning post.


"I believed 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 however I certainly wasn't beat'. He stated he really liked the way he went from the last to the line.


"It occurred to us the other day [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 further as well. I 'd envision he'll come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival."


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