Sunday and day 3 of the Leopardstown and Limerick Christmas Festivals.
The first Grade 1 at Leopardstown was the Christmas Hurdle for the stayers and for owners Robcor it turned out to be a great result as they owned the first two home namely the winner Teahupoo and runner-up Bob Olinger. This provided another nice winner for the Elliott /Kennedy combination. The Mullins trained favourite Ballyburn was well beaten in third. The Savills Chase saw the seasonal reappearance of Galopin Des Champs but the winner was the Noel Meade trained Affordale Fury who won well and landed a punt in the process. The winner jumped right a t some fences but bravely held on up the run in for jockey of the moment Sam Ewing.
Limerick’s most prestigious race on their calendar is the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase and Final Demand trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Patrick Mullins landed the very prohibitive odds by eight lengths. Owners Doctor Caroline Tisdall and Brian Drew flew over for the day to see him win. Avery short price now for the Brown Advisory Novice Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Challow Hurdle at Newbury saw No Drama This End take the prize for Nicholls and Cobden. Probably Trials Day at the end of January at Cheltenham before a tilt at the Turners Novice Hurdle on day two of jumping’s showcase in March.
At Doncaster the Listed Silver Vase Mares Chase was won by Spindleberry. The Mullins Irish raider got the better of the front running Telepathique by six lengths.
At Leopardstown the Grade 3 Kerrymount Mares Hurdle was another winner for Elliott and Kennedy after Wodhooh continued her rich vein of form. The Mares Hurdle is the target. The December Hurdle saw Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead clash again and the former was a length too good at the line. That cements her place as second favourite for the Champion Hurdle behind Sir Gino.
A busy few days has seen top class action both in the UK and Ireland, roll on New Years Day for more of the same. Happy New Year and all the best from the Major!!