Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Leopardstown 14:00 €150,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m7f80y, Class 1  |
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1 Home By The Lee
15/8F
2 Bob Olinger 3/1
3
Rocky's Diamond 66/1
8 ran Distances: 6l, 3¼l, 4¼l
Time: 5m 56.10s (slow by 11.60s)
Too good - Home By The Lee lands the G1 Savills Hurdle to continue a dream Festive period for Joseph O’Brien
— Betfair Racing (@BetfairRacing) December 28, 2024
A Racing… Only Bettor winner too for @kevinblake2011 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/ij6dZ3VNrQ
Home By Lee regained his title in good style at Leopardstown, continuing Joseph O’Brien’s remarkable Christmas hot streak. O’Brien’s charge, who took the race in 2022 but finished fifth of six last year, returned in fine form this season to take the Lismullen Hurdle in mid-November.
J J Slevin trained and rode the 15-8 favorite to perfection, producing a challenge that saw Home By Lee prevail by six lengths over Bob Olinger. This victory marked O’Brien’s third Grade One success of the Christmas period, following wins with Banbridge in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Thursday and Solness in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown on Friday.
O’Brien expressed his delight, saying, “He’s been a good horse for a few years now and it was a really good reappearance in Navan the last day. His best runs have been with the blinkers before. He’s always less enthusiastic on his second run and we were worried that he may do a bit too much with the blinkers back on. J J got him settled and into a lovely rhythm and I’m delighted for Sean and Rose (O’Driscoll, owners) and all their friends. This horse has a big following and is a special horse.”
He added, “I’d say that was close to a career-best from him. He’s been around for a number of years now and will go back to Cheltenham with an each-way chance.”
Reflecting on his recent run of form, O’Brien remarked, “It’s been a really good week. Solness has been a good consistent horse, but J J found a good strip of ground all the way and Banbridge was going to be in the mix if he stayed and Paul (Townend) gave him a fantastic ride. Rarely things fall into place the way you dream they could, but this week it has for us.”
Home By Lee’s victory in the Savills Hurdle highlights his resilience and marks another milestone in O’Brien’s impressive Christmas campaign. The anticipation for his performance at Cheltenham is now even higher, promising more exciting races ahead.
Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle
2m7f80y, Race Value: €150,000, Grade 1
8 ran
Going: Yielding, Good to Yielding in places
1 Home By The Lee 9 11-10 Joseph O'Brien J J Slevin 15/8F
2 6 Bob Olinger 9 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 3/1
3 3¼ Rocky's Diamond 4 11-10 Declan Queally Shane Fitzgerald 66/1
4 4¼ Sandor Clegane 7 11-10 Paul Nolan Sean O'Keeffe 8/1
5 7½ Hewick 9 11-10 Miss Tara Lee Cogan Jordan Gainford 4/1
6 2¾ Asterion Forlonge 10 11-10 W P Mullins Paul Townend 15/2
7 5 Beacon Edge 10 11-10 Gordon Elliott Danny Gilligan 14/1
PU Noble Yeats 9 11-10 Emmet Mullins Donagh Meyler 22/1
