Trainer Elliott Takes Two Grade One Leopardstown Wins
Published
27 December 2025
Trainer Gordon Elliott declared two 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 two of the major races.
Elliott-trained Favori De Champdou battled back under Ewing to beat stablemate Look for Glory to win the Paddy Power Chase after Skylight Hustle had earlier won the Novices Hurdle for Elliott, with Jack Kennedy the victorious jockey on that event.
Solness, ridden by Ewing, took triumph 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) repeated his victory of 12 months earlier in the very same race as he edged out Marine Nationale (2-1) by half a length.
The 2 horses were associated with a thrilling four-way fight at the front as they leapt the last fence, with Ewing's mount proving a reliable 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 succeeding to remain in the saddle and then get his horse into contention on the altercation.
"He's difficult as nails and he likes racing at Leopardstown," winning fitness instructor 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 last fence to clinch a success in the Hurdle, the fallen horse having actually landed too steeply and unable to keep his balance.
Kennedy had moved the ultimate winner stylishly into contention but his mount looked scheduled for second 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 might have been in line for a remarkable 3 Grade One triumphes in a day, having ridden Favori De Champou and Solness to victory.
Skylight Hustle, the 3-1 preferred, came 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 buck," Elliott told RTE after viewing his horse Skylight Hustle pass the winning post.
"I thought taking a look at it live that we were beat, however when I looked at the re-run, I wasn't sure [with] the method my lad galloped from the last to the line.
"Jack said when he can be found in 'I can't ensure I would have won but I absolutely wasn't beat'. He said he really liked the way he went from the last to the line.
"It happened 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 an excellent horse and I believe he'll stay further also. I 'd envision he'll return here for the Dublin Racing Festival."
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