Elliott, Jacob and Blackmore steal show on final day at Leopardstown Christmas Festival
Cullentra chalked up a series of milestones with two winners
Sunday, 29 December 2024
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Elliott now has 2,000 Irish National Hunt winners to his name
The final day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival delivered storylines galore with some of Irish racing’s biggest names taking centre stage.
It was a landmark day for Gordon Elliott and the Cullentra team who brought up a series of milestones with two impressive winners.
First, Sam Ewing guided The Enabler to victory in the opening Grant Fit Out Maiden Hurdle, marking team Elliott’s 2,000th Irish National Hunt winner and 100th victory of the season.
Later, Ewing was again on board as highly-rated mare Brighterdaysahead took the Neville Hotels Hurdle to bring up a century of Grade 1 winners for Elliott.
“It’s nice to do it,” Elliott told Racing TV. “I couldn’t do it without the owners and the staff I have. I’m absolutely delighted.”
Gigginstown-owned Brighterdaysahead finished second at last year’s Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham and this impressive display sparked further debate on her destination at this year’s Festival.
“Let’s see how she comes out of this,” said Michael O’Leary. “If she was beaten here, we’d have gone for the
Mares Hurdle but at least now I think we’re entitled to consider the Champion Hurdle.”
The last day of Festival racing marked the swansong of popular jockey Daryl Jacob.
The 41-year-old, whose first top-level triumph came at this meeting in 2006, passed the post in 12th place aboard Mr Percy in the last act of a glittering career.
“Leopardstown has always been very close to my heart,” said Jacob. “It’s one of the most beautiful tracks in the world to ride around and it just felt right.
“This is what I’ve worked so hard for, coming back from all of those shoulder injuries and the last break was a complicated one. I just wanted that one opportunity to ride a Grade 1 winner and all of those emotions, it just feels like the perfect ending.”
There was the beginning of a new chapter for Rachael Blackmore, who rode her first winner since returning from a serious neck injury in September.
Blackmore piloted Henry de Bromhead’s July Flower to an impressive win in the Grade 3 Beat the Bank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle.
“It’s brilliant,” she said. “Everyone in there wants to be riding winners at a festival like this and it’s great to get it done. I felt like I was off for a long time, it’s great to be back and doing what you want to be doing.”
It was a landmark day for Gordon Elliott and the Cullentra team who brought up a series of milestones with two impressive winners.
First, Sam Ewing guided The Enabler to victory in the opening Grant Fit Out Maiden Hurdle, marking team Elliott’s 2,000th Irish National Hunt winner and 100th victory of the season.
Later, Ewing was again on board as highly-rated mare Brighterdaysahead took the Neville Hotels Hurdle to bring up a century of Grade 1 winners for Elliott.
“It’s nice to do it,” Elliott told Racing TV. “I couldn’t do it without the owners and the staff I have. I’m absolutely delighted.”
Gigginstown-owned Brighterdaysahead finished second at last year’s Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham and this impressive display sparked further debate on her destination at this year’s Festival.
“Let’s see how she comes out of this,” said Michael O’Leary. “If she was beaten here, we’d have gone for the
Mares Hurdle but at least now I think we’re entitled to consider the Champion Hurdle.”
The last day of Festival racing marked the swansong of popular jockey Daryl Jacob.
The 41-year-old, whose first top-level triumph came at this meeting in 2006, passed the post in 12th place aboard Mr Percy in the last act of a glittering career.
“Leopardstown has always been very close to my heart,” said Jacob. “It’s one of the most beautiful tracks in the world to ride around and it just felt right.
“This is what I’ve worked so hard for, coming back from all of those shoulder injuries and the last break was a complicated one. I just wanted that one opportunity to ride a Grade 1 winner and all of those emotions, it just feels like the perfect ending.”
There was the beginning of a new chapter for Rachael Blackmore, who rode her first winner since returning from a serious neck injury in September.
Blackmore piloted Henry de Bromhead’s July Flower to an impressive win in the Grade 3 Beat the Bank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle.
“It’s brilliant,” she said. “Everyone in there wants to be riding winners at a festival like this and it’s great to get it done. I felt like I was off for a long time, it’s great to be back and doing what you want to be doing.”