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 also winning two 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 earlier won the Novices Hurdle for Elliott, with Jack Kennedy the victorious jockey on that .


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


The two horses were included in an awesome four-way battle at the front as they jumped the last fence, with Ewing's mount proving an effective frontrunner for trainer 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 remain in the saddle and after that get his horse into contention on the run-in.


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


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


Meanwhile Skylight Hustle took full benefit 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 not able to keep his balance.


Kennedy had actually moved the eventual winner stylishly into contention but his mount looked scheduled for 2nd when Joseph O'Brien's challenger accelerated 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 could have been in line for a remarkable 3 Grade One triumphes in a day, having ridden Favori De Champou and Solness to success.


Skylight Hustle, the 3-1 preferred, got back 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 way and jumped like a buck," 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 said when he came in 'I can't guarantee I would have won however I absolutely wasn't beat'. He said he actually liked the method 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] but that's why it's called dive racing.


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


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