The Leopardstown Christmas Festival once again delivered a thrilling spectacle, as some of the best names in National Hunt racing showcased their talent over four action-packed days. From dominant displays to unexpected disappointments in horse racing betting online, the festival offered plenty for punters, trainers, and racing enthusiasts to dissect.
In this article, we’ll break down the standout winners who stole the show, as well as the unfortunate losers who will be looking for redemption. Whether its future stars making their mark or seasoned campaigners falling short, the highs and lows from Leopardstown have set the tone for the rest of the season. Let’s dive into the drama and take stock of the festival’s biggest talking points.
Winner: Gordon Elliott
While Willie Mullins is usually at the centre of Ireland’s biggest meetings, his old rival Gordon Elliott was the top dog at the 2024 Leopardstown Christmas Festival.
The County Meath-based handler enjoyed a stunning seven victories over the course of the four days, including scoring in three of the festival’s seven Grade 1 contests.
Elliott has enjoyed the first half of the season and could be a big threat to Mullins’ Leading Trainer crown at the Cheltenham Festival.
Loser: Willie Mullins
It seems harsh to brand Mullins as a Leopardstown loser, given that he secured four wins across the meeting.
However, given his incredibly high standards, he would have been left feeling deflated that he didn’t come away with more prizes.
Argento Boy, Quai De Bourbon, and Redemption Day were some of Mullins’ biggest disappointments, all losing at short prices.
Winner: Joseph O’Brien
Dual-purpose trainers are a rare breed in this day and age, but Joseph O’Brien is conducting himself with great aplomb across both of horse racing’s spheres.
Despite only having, give or take, 20 jumpers in his Owning Hill stables, the 31-year-old secured a stunning Grade 1 hat-trick over the festive period.
Alongside winning the prestigious King George VI Chase at Kempton, O’Brien landed two top-level races at Leopardstown with Solness and Home By The Lee—amassing over €300,000 in prize money.
Loser: State Man
Turning our attention to the horses, State Man was one of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival’s biggest disappointments.
Having been held by Brighterdaysahead on reappearance at Punchestown in November, the current Champion Hurdle holder was heavily backed to reverse the form on Elliott’s stable star.
However, the seven-year-old was never in contention and finished a distant 31 lengths back in third as Brighterdaysahead made a mockery of her rivals in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Hurdle.
Winner: Galopin Des Champs
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Mullins at Leopardstown, as Galopin Des Champs affirmed his Cheltenham Gold Cup hat-trick credentials when defending his Savills Chase title.
The nine-year-old needed to reverse the form on younger stable Fact To File to get his bid of securing a historic three-peat back on track.
He did so with ease as well, breezing home from the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old to win by over seven lengths.
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