Trainer Elliott Takes Two 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 likewise winning 2 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 event.


Solness, ridden by Ewing, took triumph 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) duplicated his victory of 12 months earlier in the 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 showing a reliable frontrunner for .


Having his very first race of the season, Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale overcame the obstacle of hitting 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 run-in.


"He is difficult as nails and he likes 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 full advantage after Talk The Talk fell at the last 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 however his mount looked scheduled for 2nd when Joseph O'Brien's opposition quickened remarkably 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 could have been in line for an amazing 3 Grade One triumphes in a day, having ridden Favori De Champou and Solness to success.


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


"The horse took a trip like a dream the entire method and jumped like a dollar," Elliott informed RTE after enjoying his horse Skylight Hustle pass the winning post.


"I believed taking a look 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 said when he was available in 'I can't guarantee I would have won but I certainly wasn't beat'. He said he truly liked the way 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 believe he'll stay even more too. I 'd envision he'll return here for the Dublin Racing Festival."


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