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Gordon Elliott dominates as Favori De Champdou wins Paddy Power Chase

Updated / Saturday, 27 Dec 2025 18:44
Favori De Champdou claimed victory in the Paddy Power Chase
Favori De Champdou claimed victory in the Paddy Power Chase

Outside Favori De Champdou battled back to beat stablemate Search for Glory to win the Paddy Power Chase on a day dominated by Gordon Elliott at Leopardstown.

Elliott claimed four winners on the card, including two Group 1s, having earlier scooped the novice hurdle as Skylight Hustle capitalised on Talk The Talk's fall at the last.

Jockey Sam Ewing would have completed a clean sweep of the Group 1s, but for Talk The Talk's fall, the Antrim rider riding both Favori De Champdou and Solness to victory on Saturday.

The former was headed approaching the last, only to battle back gamely and hold off his stablemate to take the win in the featured race.

Elliott has well and truly been the man to follow in recent weeks and said of Favori De Champdou: "I can't believe the way things are going. Sam was good on him and got it easy in front and James (Smith) was good on the second horse, so I’m delighted," said Elliott.

"Maybe the cross-country the last day helped to sweeten him up a bit. It’s great prize-money and they are the races you want to win.

"Jack (Kennedy) is first jockey, but Sam, Danny (Gilligan) and all the boys are there at home. They have to wait their turn but it just goes to show when you keep your head down and keep working you get your chances."

Solness repeated his victory of 12 months ago in the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase when seeing off a truly gallant Marine Nationale in a thrilling race.

Only half a length separated them at the line in the Grade One feature, but the Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale and Sean Flanagan had worked wonders mid-race to keep their partnership intact after a dreadful blunder.

It was to their credit they arrived almost upsides Solness (8-1), with Majborough just behind, at the final fence, but it was Joseph O’Brien’s Solness, with Sam Ewing replacing the stood down J J Slevin, who prevailed for the second year in a row.

"He's very good here in Leopardstown," said O’Brien, who went close to back-to-back King George VI Chase wins at Kempton Park on St Stephen's Day with Banbridge.

"I don’t know what it is, we tend to keep him wide looking for the better ground and he likes being in lots of space and it seems to work.

"My heart goes out to J J who was stood down with concussion after the last race. He’s done all the hard work on the horse, but Sam gave him a fantastic ride.

"The horse is as tough as nails, and it was a great race. It was a great run from Marine Nationale after making that mistake early.

"He’ll come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival. The track suits him as he likes to be ridden aggressively and the drier ground here."

Skylight Hustle was a rather fortunate winner of the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle after Talk The Talk fell at the final flight.

Gordon Elliott's Skylight Hustle had himself moved stylishly into contention, but he looked booked for second when O’Brien’s Talk The Talk quickened impressively and was half a length up jumping the last.

Just as Ewing was poised to be beneficiary of two Grade Ones on the card stepping in for the concussed J J Slevin, Talk The Talk landed too steeply and was unable to keep his balance, handing the race to the 3-1 favourite by five lengths from Carrigmoornaspruce.

"He travelled like a dream the whole way and jumped like a buck," said Elliott.

"I thought looking at it live that we were beat, but when I looked at the re-run, I wasn’t sure (with) the way my lad galloped from the last to the line.

"Jack said when he came in 'I can’t guarantee I would have won but I definitely wasn’t beat’. He said he really liked the way he went from the last to the line.

"It happened to us yesterday (when El Cairos fell when in front at the last) but that’s why it’s called jump racing.

"He’s a good horse and I think he’ll stay further as well.

"I’d imagine he’ll come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival."

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