Trainer Elliott Takes 2 Grade One Leopardstown Wins
Published
27 December 2025
Trainer Gordon Elliott declared 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 also winning 2 of the major 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 previously won the Novices Hurdle for Elliott, with Jack Kennedy the victorious 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) repeated his success 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 fight at the front as they leapt the last fence, with Ewing's install showing an effective frontrunner for fitness instructor O'Brien.
Having his first race of the season, Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale conquered the problem of striking 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 enjoys racing at Leopardstown," winning trainer O'Brien informed RTE after the race.
Pre-race preferred Majborough (6-4) finished third.
Meanwhile Skylight Hustle took full 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 actually moved the eventual winner stylishly into however his mount looked booked for 2nd when Joseph O'Brien's challenger 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 3 Grade One triumphes in a day, having ridden Favori De Champou and Solness to victory.
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 method and jumped like a dollar," Elliott told RTE after enjoying his horse Skylight Hustle pass the winning post.
"I believed looking at it live that we were beat, but when I took a look 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 said he truly liked the way he went from the last to the line.
"It took place to us the other day [when El Cairos fell when in front at the last] but that's why it's called jump racing.
"He's a great horse and I think he'll stay further too. I 'd picture he'll come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival."
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