Trainer Elliott Takes 2 Grade One Leopardstown Wins
Published
27 December 2025
Trainer Gordon Elliott claimed 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 significant races.
Elliott-trained Favori De Champdou fought 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 triumphant jockey on that celebration.
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 earlier in the same race as he edged out Marine Nationale (2-1) by half a length.
The 2 horses were associated with an awesome four-way battle at the front as they leapt the final fence, with Ewing's mount showing a reliable frontrunner for trainer O'Brien.
Having his first race of the season, Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale overcame the setback of hitting the 3rd of the 11 fences, with jockey Sean Flanagan doing well to remain in the saddle and after that get his horse into contention on the encounter.
"He's tough as nails and he loves racing at Leopardstown," winning fitness instructor O'Brien informed RTE after the race.
Pre-race preferred Majborough (6-4) finished third.
Meanwhile Skylight Hustle took full benefit after Talk The Talk fell at the last fence to clinch a success in the two-mile Novices Hurdle, the having actually landed too steeply and not able to keep his balance.
Kennedy had moved the eventual winner stylishly into contention but his install looked scheduled for second when Joseph O'Brien's challenger quickened 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 three Grade One success in a day, having ridden Favori De Champou and Solness to triumph.
Skylight Hustle, the 3-1 favourite, got home with five 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 way and leapt 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, 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 guarantee I would have won however I certainly wasn't beat'. He stated he actually liked the method 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 jump racing.
"He's a great horse and I think he'll remain even more too. I 'd imagine he'll return here for the Dublin Racing Festival."
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