13:55 Leopardstown (IRE) 28 Dec 2025
Christmas Hurdle
Grade 1 | Class 1 | 4YO plus
Winner €90,000 - 8 ran
in touch, 4th after 7th, not fluent 8th, improved to 2nd after 3 out, took closer order before 2 out, led after 2 out, travelled well and asserted before last where not fluent, kept on well run-in, comfortably
held up in rear, 8th before 8th, 7th after 3 out, headway approaching straight, stayed on in 2nd before last, no impression on winner run-in, kept on same pace closing stages
tracked leader, 2nd after 7th, not fluent 9th, 3rd after 3 out, took closer order before 2 out, improved to 2nd after 2 out, dropped to 3rd and no impression before last where mistake, one paced run-in
in touch, dropped to 5th after 7th, lost place 10th where not fluent, soon under pressure, effort in 5th after 3 out, 4th before 2 out, no impression before last, kept on same pace run-in
mid-division, progress in 3rd after 7th, 4th after 3 out, dropped to 5th before 2 out, weakened before last
led, mistake 3rd, 4 lengths clear before 5th, increased advantage after 8th, mistake 4 out, reduced lead before 2 out where mistake and headed, soon dropped to 3rd, weakened entering straight
rear of mid-division, 6th before 8th, dropped to rear and under pressure after 3 out, weakened after 2 out
towards rear, 7th before 8th, under pressure in 6th after 3 out, weakened after 2 out
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | €29.31 (6, 2) |
| Tricast | €56.21 (6, 2, 1) |
| Win | €3.50 (6) |
| Place | €1.30 (6), €2.00 (2), €1.10 (1) |
| Exacta | €21.00 (6, 2) |
| Trifecta | €65.20 (6, 2, 1) |
Expert Analysis
A strong Grade 1 that brought together the best Irish staying hurdlers, young and old, and it was one of the experienced runners that won, Teahupoo putting up a performance as good as any in his long career to win a seventh Grade 1. The pace here was overly strong, the time 12.8 seconds faster than the Pertemps qualifier later on the card, and it meant that a few of the runners failed to run their race.
TEAHUPOO was not sure certain to take his chance in this race, connections worried about the ground, but he made light of those concerns to run out a facile winner, beating Ballyburn much further than he had in the Hatton’s Grace. He travelled strongly and the race was over as a contest after the second last as he coasted to victory. His trainer has said he will be busier this season and he seems to be thriving on it.
BOB OLINGER was ridden with an eye to the next day, which will presumably by Cheltenham in March. Dropped out in rear, he stayed on steadily from two and should improve for this run. He is rising 11, but this was a good start to this season.
BALLYBURN was closely matched with the winner on their Fairyhouse run but regressed from that outing without having obvious in race excuses. He was keen, but not as keen as he can be, made a mistake four out and was soon left behind after the second last.
HOME BY THE LEE won this race twice before but seems not to be the force of old. He was typically on and off the bridle during the race in a first-time visor and briefly rallied leaving the back straight only for his effort to peter out.
THE YELLOW CLAY was disappointing back on what looked more suitable ground. He jumped and travelled well in the first half of the race but lost his position down the back straight and has something to prove now.
ROCKY’S DIAMOND was an excellent third in this race as a four-year-old last season, and shaped better than the result this time, reverting from fences. He overdid it in the lead, going clear in a first-time visor, making numerous errors and is better than this.
JETARA raced off the pace and made little impact.
MYSTICAL POWER raced off the pace and make little impact, failing to come forward from his Hatton’s Grace run.
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Yielding | 8 | Home By The Lee | 9 | 11 10 | - | 353-361 | 42 days | J P O'Brien (76 miles) | J J Slevin | 15/ 8 | 5:56.10 | |
| 2023 | Heavy | 6 | Irish Point | 5 | 11 10 | - | 22411-1 | 48 days | G Elliott (70 miles) | Jack Kennedy | EVENS | 6:28.70 | |
| 2022 | Soft | 11 | Home By The Lee | 7 | 11 10 | - | P226-R1 | 45 days | J P O'Brien (76 miles) | J J Slevin | 7/ 1 | 6:22.02 | |
| 2021 | Soft | 11 | Klassical Dream | 7 | 11 12 | - | 11135-1 | 243 days | W P Mullins (56 miles) | Paul Townend | 7/ 4 | 6:04.40 | |
| 2020 | Soft | 7 | Flooring Porter | 5 | 11 12 | - | 62-1321 | 23 days | G P Cromwell (70 miles) | Jonathan Moore | 11/ 1 | 6:37.80 | |
| 2019 | Soft | 7 | Apple's Jade | 7 | 11 3 | - | 163-523 | 27 days | G Elliott (70 miles) | Jack Kennedy | 6/ 4 | 6:14.40 | |
| 2018 | Good - Yielding | 7 | Apple's Jade | 6 | 11 3 | - | 1133-11 | 26 days | G Elliott (70 miles) | Jack Kennedy | 8/ 13 | 6:01.10 | |
| 2017 | Soft | 6 | Apple's Jade | 5 | 11 3 | - | 1211-11 | 25 days | G Elliott (70 miles) | Davy Russell | 4/ 6 | 6:18.80 | |
| 2016 | Yielding | 8 | Vroum Vroum Mag | 7 | 11 3 | - | 1111-12 | 24 days | W P Mullins (56 miles) | Ruby Walsh | 8/ 15 | 6:06.90 | |
| 2015 | Heavy | 5 | Prince Of Scars | 5 | 11 10 | - | 125-811 | 36 days | G Elliott (70 miles) | Davy Russell | 10/ 1 | 6:22.20 | |
| 2014 | Soft | 8 | Lieutenant Colonel | 5 | 11 10 | - | 261-321 | 28 days | M S Sandra Hughes (38 miles) | Bryan Cooper | 4/ 1 | 6:19.50 | |
| 2013 | Soft | 4 | Zaidpour | 7 | 11 10 | - | P23-732 | 27 days | W P Mullins (56 miles) | Ruby Walsh | 5/ 4 | 6:22.80 | |
| 2012 | Soft | 10 | Monksland | 5 | 11 8 | - | 1113-12 | 26 days | N Meade (70 miles) | Paul Carberry | 11/ 4 | 6:15.80 | |
| 2011 | Good | 6 | Voler La Vedette | 7 | 11 3 | - | 41-1411 | 24 days | Colm Murphy (74 miles) | A Lynch | 13/ 8 | 6:07.00 | |
| 2010 | Soft - Heavy | 10 | Mourad | 5 | 11 6 | - | 21213-4 | 13 days | W P Mullins (56 miles) | Paul Townend | 7/ 4 | 6:24.60 | |
| 2009 | Yielding | 9 | Powerstation | 9 | 11 3 | - | 3-63762 | 31 days | E O'Connell (119 miles) | A J McNamara | 9/ 1 | 6:03.70 | |
| 2008 | Soft | 6 | Catch Me | 6 | 11 10 | - | 165-411 | 28 days | E J O'Grady (119 miles) | A J McNamara | 4/ 6 | 6:04.40 | |
| 2007 | Good | 10 | Sweet Kiln | 8 | 11 3 | - | 122-122 | 12 days | M J Bowe (76 miles) | T J Doyle | 11/ 10 | 5:51.30 | |
| 2006 | Heavy | 8 | Celestial Wave | 6 | 11 3 | - | 1112-31 | 11 days | A Maguire (161 miles) | Timmy Murphy | 11/ 4 | 6:13.20 | |
| 2005 | Good to Soft | 5 | Rosaker | 8 | 11 8 | - | 3P36-62 | 201 days | N Meade (70 miles) | Paul Carberry | 7/ 1 | 6:03.00 |
