Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece, I conclude my festive racing review. Yesterday I looked at Boxing Day and Saturday. Today I’m looking at Sunday and Monday’s racing.
Christmas Sunday
The top-class racing on Sunday came exclusively from across the Irish Sea, with Grade 1 action at both Leopardstown and Limerick. Leopardstown staged two Grade 1s, with one at Limerick.
Leopardstown
Teahupoo Dominates Ballyburn in Staying Showdown
Teahupoo was an emphatic winner of the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle. He had edged out Ballyburn by a nose on his seasonal return in the Hatton’s Grace, but back over three miles here he was in a different league, pulling 14 lengths clear of his old rival. Teahupoo is a high-class stayer and not merely a mudlark either.
Last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle winner Bob Olinger shaped well in second on his seasonal return. He finished seven lengths behind Teahupoo but is four from four at Cheltenham, so there shouldn’t be much between the pair come March.
Ballyburn, who had been promoted to Stayers’ Hurdle favouritism after the Hatton’s Grace, raced too keenly and failed to see out the trip.
Affordable Fury Upsets Favourites in Stunning Savills Success
Affordable Fury, a notable market mover from 33/1 into 7/1, landed what looked a strong renewal of the Grade 1 Savills Chase. A talented chaser, he finally got his jumping right on the biggest stage and arrived fit and ready, unlike some of his principal rivals. He took it up early and, despite jumping right throughout, showed real grit when headed by the returning Galopin Des Champs entering the straight. He rallied strongly, regained the lead approaching the last and ran out a decisive winner. Cut to around 14/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup afterwards, he would need to iron out that tendency to jump right at Cheltenham. I suspect this was very much his day.
Galopin Des Champs, making his seasonal return, weakened late on and lost second close home to stablemate I Am Maximus. He ran as though in need of the outing, and it will be interesting to see if he lines up in the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival, a race he’s won for the past three seasons. If he does, I’d expect him to be back to winning ways before heading to Cheltenham. Winning a third Gold Cup at the age of ten won’t be easy, but the 6/1 available still makes appeal.
I Am Maximus ran a huge race. So effective over the Grand National fences, he showed here that on his day he’s a very smart horse over regulation fences too. A return to Aintree will surely be on the agenda, but he’s another who could take his chance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Inothewayurthinkin Struggles on Seasonal Return, Eyes Cheltenham Revival
The disappointment of the race was last season’s Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin. Weak in the betting beforehand, drifting from 2/1 to 9/1 before shortening again to 13/2 at the off, he ran accordingly. He finished last of the nine who completed and never looked comfortable. I didn’t expect him to win, but neither did I anticipate such a lifeless display. That said, he tends to come alive in the spring, so I’d still expect to see a different horse come the Cheltenham Festival.
Final Demand Dominates Faugheen Novice Chase, Romeo Coolio Clash Looms
Dual Grade 1 novice hurdler Final Demand made it 2 from 2 over fences with a commanding success in the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick. Although he only faced three rivals, his jumping out in front was nearly flawless, apart from the last when the race was already secured.
His cause was helped by a below-par run from stablemate and market rival Jimmy Du Seuil. Unlike Final Demand, Jimmy Du Seuil’s jumping lacked fluency, and he finished a well-beaten last. While he had won on soft ground on his chase debut last month, Sunday’s more testing conditions didn’t suit him or perhaps he simply needs more time between races.
Final Demand remains the standout novice chaser this season and is a short-priced favourite for the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival. Before that, he could line up against Romeo Coolio over 2m5f at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Monday
Lossiemouth Reasserts Her Class
Lossiemouth landed her ninth Grade 1 with victory in the December Hurdle and it was arguably a career-best performance from the mare. Stablemate Anzadam, who began the season as a live Champion Hurdle contender, pulled his way to the front early, a move that probably played into the hands of Lossiemouth, who looks better suited to a trip beyond two miles.
She had the race won approaching the last but was closed down late by Brighterdaysahead, who finished within a length at the line. You could argue that, with this run under her belt, Brighterdaysahead might reverse placings in next month’s Irish Champion Hurdle, but I’m not convinced. Lossiemouth may have hit the front a shade too soon and she tends to do just enough once she’s there.
Let’s hope connections roll the dice this year and aim her at the Champion Hurdle rather than taking the softer Mares’ Hurdle option.
As for Anzadam, his future is less clear. He’s got plenty of ability and a serious engine, but he remains hard to settle, as he showed again here. A County Hurdle could make sense, where cover in a big field might help him relax. Whether he’d find enough at the finish is another matter entirely.
No Drama This End Keeps Rolling
There was also Grade 1 action at Newbury, where No Drama This End made it 3 from 3 over hurdles to give Paul Nicholls a seventh win in the Challow. It looked a workmanlike success on the quickest ground he’s encountered so far, but he had plenty in hand at the finish.
The Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham is next and he was cut to 3/1 favourite afterwards. That looks justified. The New Lion broke the Challow hoodoo last year and No Drama This End could do the same. I’ve yet to see anything from Ireland this season that looks clearly much better than him.
Christmas Eyecatchers
I haven’t had a chance to look to deeply outside the big Christmas races yet. However, I have noted three.
Grangeclare West (Willie Mullins)
Grangeclare West may well have won last year’s Grand National but for a mistake at the last. He took a big step up on his seasonal return when a staying on 6 ¼ length fourth to Affordale Fury in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown. He hasn’t won since December 2023 but there’s a race below Grade 1 for him or he’s heading for another tilt at Aintree.
Koktail Divin (Henry De Bromhead)
Runner-up on his first two starts was a commanding winner of Sunday’s Beginners Chase (2m5½f) at Leopardstown. He jumped well out in front and really enjoyed the good ground. He didn’t look like he stayed 3m on heavy ground when beaten by Oscar’s Brother in a Grade 2 at Punchestown on his previous start, but I think that was more ground related. You can see now why JP McManus has bought Oscar’s Brother now. On better ground, three miles should suit the 5yo who looks an exciting novice chase prospect.
Wendrock (Gordon Elliott)
Did best of those ridden in the rear when a 6¾ lengths 5th of 16 to Champagne Kid in Monday’s Neville Hotels Premier Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown. The step up to 2m4f seemed to suit the 4yo and he was doing his best work at the finish in race where it paid to be front rank. I’m sure his trainer can place him to win a nice handicap hurdle pot next year.
Christmas 2025 Verdict
Big crowds, thrilling finishes, the return of Sir Gino and standout performances from the likes of Haiti Couleurs — that neatly sums up the festive racing in Britain.
King Gordon of Leopardstown
Across the Irish Sea, Leopardstown also enjoyed bumper crowds, with Gordon Elliott eclipsing Willie Mullins over the four days. It was a superb Christmas for Elliott, who saddled 13 winners at Leopardstown and added another three at Limerick.
Mullins, by contrast, doesn’t boast the strongest record at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. In recent seasons he’s tended to hit top gear later at the Dublin Racing Festival. He managed just four winners in 2024 and matched that tally again this year.
However, this time there were a few more concerns. Lossiemouth delivered, but several others folded when put under pressure – often a sign that something isn’t quite right. The same observation applies to the Gavin Cromwell yard.
Things can change quickly at this level, and no doubt both stables will bounce back.
Wednesday Racing
The final race meetings of the calendar year. Warwick and Uttoxeter face early morning inspections, to see if they can race. There should be no problems at Punchestown though or on the all-weather at Lingfield .
Lingfield
Wednesday’s best race is the Listed Midnite Quebec Stakes (2.00). Only five runners go to post, with £28,355 on offer to the winner.
Tyrrhenian Sea won this in 2023 and finished runner-up 12 months ago. He returned from a break with an encouraging 3rd of eight in a similar race at Kempton 30 days ago. This has clearly been the plan, and he looks the one to beat.
Military Academy has looked regressive since finishing a neck second to Hamish at Goodwood in June. He’s moved from the Gosden yard to Jane Chapple-Hyam and wears a first-time visor on his drop back to 1m2f. Not out of this if the change of yard has had the desired effect.
The Gosden team saddle Torito and Nebras. The former has been disappointing this season and was well behind Tyrrhenian Sea at Kempton last time. Nebras was allowed his own way when making all to win a Newcastle handicap over the trip. He may get an uncontested lead again, which gives him a chance, and he looks the pick of the pair.
Duke’s Command gained his first on the all-weather, when winning a C&D handicap 16 days ago. He needs more stepping up in class but arrives in form and shouldn’t be discounted.
Punchestown
2.35 – Theflyingbee ran to form when a 2½-length 2nd of 15 to Spinola Bay at Navan (2m) 17 days ago. The winner followed up at Leopardstown on Boxing Day, so the form looks solid. A return to 2m3f should suit and she can go close if repeating her latest effort.
A Dream To Share won the Champion Bumper at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival and followed up in the Punchestown equivalent. He’s yet to make an impact in four hurdle starts but looks well treated on his smart bumper form. It will be interesting to see how he goes in the betting.
Catch The Beast needed the run after eight months off when finishing a 15-length 6th of 14 in the Listed Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle at Naas. Testing ground suits and he’s not badly treated on his best hurdle form.
The New Year is almost here. I’ll be glad to see the back of 2025 and I’m looking forward to 2026. It’s been arguably my most challenging year, so it’s good to start again with a clean slate.
All that’s left is to wish you and yours a happy and prosperous New Year.
John