Returning stars: Horses set to make reappearances at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival

By: Joe Lyons

December 17, 2025

Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival is one of the highlights of the racing calendar and there are a few returning names to look out for.

By the end of the festive period, we’ve usually seen all of the big spring festival contenders at least once and the four-day meeting is an ideal starting point for many.

Entries have been released for all races on the 26th and 27th alongside the big races on the 28th and 29th.

Horses set to reappear at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival

Friday, December 26

The Reverend

Old Cup Borough winner THE REVEREND is ready to embark on a jumps career after leaving William Haggas’ flat yard, now in the care of Willie Mullins.

In the colours of Tony Bloom, the four-year-old has been entered in the TRI Equestrian Maiden Hurdle – the first race of the meeting on St. Stephen’s Day.

Rated 102 on the level, he surely has serious potential in this discipline. The son of Lope De Vega has drawn comparisons to Bloom’s former Albert Bartlett and Stayers’ Hurdle hero Penhill.

Bloom’s racing manager Sean Graham said Mullins’ assistant David Casey reported The Reverend has schooled well over hurdles and he’s rated higher on the flat than Penhill (100) ever was.

WATCH: The Reverend wins the Old Borough Cup

Poetisa

POETISA looked a really smart individual when winning a bumper at Cheltenham in April on her only start for Toby Bulgin.

She was subsequently bought by Gigginstown House Stud for £300,000 and sent to Mullins, also entered in the maiden hurdle listed above.

She cost £42,000 as a three-year-old and hails from the family of Macs Joy, formerly trained by Jessica Harrington who was runner-up to Brave Inca in the 2006 Champion Hurdle and reversed that form to win at Punchestown.

Her sire Poet’s Word is one of the hottest around in National Hunt racing and she should appreciate a decent surface.

WATCH: Poetisa wins on debut at Cheltenham

Leader d’Allier

Bought from France after five flat wins, including a Grade 2 at Saint-Cloud, LEADER D’ALLIER has already proved popular in ante-post markets for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Turners Novices’ Hurdle.

He’s in the opener as well and is one to watch for new owner Michael Hilary Burke. In a stable tour, Mullins described him as a dark horse that’s come over and settled in nicely – very tall and athletic who catches the eye on the gallops.

WATCH: Leader d’Allier’s G3 win at Vichy

Doctor Du Mesnil

One of the talking horses of the summer and early autumn was DOCTOR DU MESNIL, all the rage in the betting for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle.

He’s been entered to make his reappearance in the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle over two miles, the second race of the card.

The Doctor Dino gelding was an incredibly impressive bumper winner on debut at Cork in April with the distant runner-up that day, Paul Nolan’s Thedeviluno, franking the form in abundance so far.

Mullins mentioned in his stable tour with the Racing Post that he has a soft spot for this lad and he might be a Turners horse with a bit of luck.

WATCH: Doctor Du Mesnil wins at Cork

El Cairos

David Maxwell’s Cheltenham Dispersal saw EL CAIROS move from Gary and Josh Moore’s stable to Gordon Elliott’s for a whopping £410,000.

Now sporting the black and white of KTDA Racing, he looks set for a mouthwatering clash against Doctor Du Mesnil.

The exciting five-year-old was one of last season’s top bumper performers, fifth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and second in a valuable race at Punchestown.

This son of No Risk It All should have plenty to offer over hurdles and he’s in excellent hands.

WATCH: El Cairos’ runner-up finish at Punchestown

Saturday, December 27

Brighterdaysahead

In a surprise move to some, BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD has been entered in the two-mile beginners chase on Saturday.

Chasing hasn’t been ruled out altogether despite Elliott pouring cold water on the proposition recently. She was due to run over fences for the first time at Navan or Fairyhouse last month but missed both assignments with a small setback.

A high-class hurdler, the mare won the Grade 1 December Hurdle in a romp last year and she’s been supplemented for that race as well. Both options are open and it’ll be interesting to see which way they go.

She has an incredible amount of ability but Elliott has a real job on his hands to try and keep her sound, she wasn’t at the peak of her powers when disappointing at Cheltenham and Punchestown in the spring.

WATCH: Brighterdaysahead wins the December Hurdle

Soldier In Milan

One that could go up against Brighterdaysahead is Emmett Mullins’ exciting talent SOLDIER IN MILAN.

He was a ready winner of a good bumper at Punchestown at the end of last season in the hands of John Gleeson, over a year after his point-to-point win at Monksgrange.

By popular sire Soldier Of Fortune, he cost €68,000 as a three-year-old and his owner Paul Byrne is well known for being a shrewd operator alongside the trainer.

The form of that bumper has worked out nicely since with winners Conman John, Riskaway, Espresso Milan and Sticktotheplan in behind.

Going straight over fences is a statement move and he’s one to keep an eye on.

WATCH: Soldier In Milan wins at Punchestown

Marine Nationale

Reigning champion chaser MARINE NATIONALE was due to run in the Fortria Chase at Navan last month but the ground got too soft and being a light-actioned horse, his trainer/owner Barry Connell opted to wait for nicer conditions at Christmas.

He’s been entered in the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase, aiming to go two better after finishing third here last year. His emphatic chase debut victory was at this track and when he’s on song, he’s a force to be reckoned with.

The eight-year-old was in the form of his life during the spring, winning at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals – two years on from his heroics in the Supreme.

He could go up against the redemption-seeking Majborough and that’d be one of the match-ups of the week.

WATCH: Marine Nationale wins the Champion Chase

Workahead

Absent since finishing last of 11 in the Supreme at Cheltenham, Henry de Bromhead’s WORKAHEAD has been entered in a two-mile handicap on the 27th – but could go to Limerick instead.

De Bromhead confirmed the horse wasn’t right when he came home after that effort but seems to be in better order now and he should be ready to start again.

The seven-year-old was a very impressive winner of a maiden hurdle on this card last year, beating Supreme runner-up and Champion Hurdle contender William Munny by seven lengths.

If he can return to form, he should have a good pot in him somewhere.

WATCH: Workahead wins at Leopardstown

Sunday, December 28

Bob Olinger

Stayers’ Hurdle champion BOB OLINGER will make his return to action in the Christmas Hurdle.

The ten-year-old was runner-up to Home By The Lee in this race last year and he’ll be lightly-campaigned again with the view of getting back to Cheltenham to defend his title.

He ran in this race three years ago too, a disappointing 7/4 favourite when finishing fifth. He appeared a non-stayer at times, but proved that is far from the case in March.

He has the option of the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day too but he’d have to carry a penalty there.

Teahupoo is set to run in this race, as is the horse mentioned just below, so owners Robcour may wish to spread them out.

WATCH: Bob Olinger wins the Stayers’ Hurdle

Hiddenvalley Lake

Liverpool Hurdle winner HIDDENVALLEY LAKE is also expected to pitch up in the Christmas Hurdle.

De Bromhead mentioned he likes a left-handed, flat track so Leopardstown should be up his street.

He’s ground versatile, but may have a preference for a decent surface and looks likely to give a good account of himself.

WATCH: Hiddenvalley Lake wins the Liverpool Hurdle

Galopin Des Champs

Two-time Gold Cup hero GALOPIN DES CHAMPS missed an intended starting point in the John Durkan Chase last month with a small setback but he is likely to take his place in the Savills.

He’s won this race impressively in each of the last two years and his Leopardstown record speaks for itself, also a three-time winner of the Irish Gold Cup.

Galopin Des Champs has never been beaten over fences at this venue, seven straight victories and hopefully he’s primed to continue that trend.

One of the greatest staying chasers in history, he’ll have a job on his hands to fend off reigning Gold Cup champion Inothewayurthinkin and this will be a clash for the ages.

Not having a prep run is far from ideal but considering Fact To File is off to Kempton for the King George, he must be working very nicely at home.

WATCH: Galopin Des Champs wins the 2024 Savills Chase

Gerri Colombe

Gordon Elliott outlined his target for GERRI COLOMBE‘s return if he comes back in the Savills, aiming for a finish in the first five or six.

The former Gold Cup runner-up and Aintree Bowl winner has been absent with injury for over a year and is just ready to start back.

Leopardstown is a possibility but he could also head to Tramore for the Grade 3 New Year’s Day Chase and enough time has passed since his last top-level win that he wouldn’t have to carry a Grade 1 penalty there.

He was runner-up to Galopin Des Champs in this race two years ago but Tramore could be an easier introduction in calmer waters.

WATCH: Gerri Colombe wins the Aintree Bowl

Monday, December 29

El Fabiolo

Entered in the December Hurdle is EL FABIOLO, former three-time Grade 1 winner over fences in the Irish Arkle, Arkle and Dublin Chase.

He’s had a torrid time over the bigger obstacles since a disastrous Champion Chase bid in 2024 when he was pulled up at the fifth fence, failing to get his head in front and falling in three of his last four starts.

Mullins is of the idea going back over hurdles could be the key to a return to form and he was always a sketchy jumper of a fence so this move could be everything he’s looking for at this stage of his career.

WATCH: El Fabiolo wins the Arkle

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