Home By The Lee regained his Savills Hurdle title in good style at Leopardstown, as Joseph O'Brien’s Christmas hot streak continued apace.
O’Brien’s charge took the race in 2022, but was fifth of six last year, although he returned in good form this season to take the Lismullen Hurdle in mid-November.
The JJ Slevin-trained 15-8 favourite was produced for his challenge to perfection to prevail by six lengths from Bob Olinger.
In doing so he was giving O’Brien a third Grade One of the Christmas period, after Banbridge in the King George at Kempton Park on Thursday and Solness in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown on Friday.
JJ Slevin times his surge perfectly aboard Home By The Lee to win the Grade 1 Savills Hurdle at #Leopardstown #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/DTEeq7BuXA
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 28, 2024
O'Brien said: "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.
"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."
Of his recent run of form, O’Brien added: "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 like you dream they could, but this week it has for us."
Willie Mullins' Christmas fortunes took a turn for the better as Kaid d’Authie impressed to win the Savills Maiden Hurdle.
The four-year-old had made only one prior start for his powerhouse stable, having been fifth behind now-stablemate Majborough at Auteuil in April last year for previous connections.
His first run for Mullins and new owner JP McManus was luckless as he fell at Navan in early December, but still he was a 7-2 chance on his third attempt over hurdles.
Under Paul Townend he looked comfortable throughout the two-mile-four-furlong affair, happily staying on to a straightforward half-length victory from Henry de Bromhead’s Koktail Divin.
"He’s a lovely big, long-striding horse who has very little respect for his hurdles and looks like he could be more of a chaser," said Mullins, who had endured a thin spell by his standards over the first two days of the festive racing period.
"He’s a big chasing type and is similar to Majborough. They both cover a huge amount of ground when they gallop.
"I’d say he’ll come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival and take on the top two-milers and we’ll see where he is then."
The Mercedes Benz South Dublin Handicap Hurdle went the way of Ross O’Sullivan’s Giant Haystacks (15-2), who prevailed by a length and a half under Tom Harney.
The trainer said: "We all had gloomy faces after being beaten in Clonmel the last day, but it’s all worked out for the best.
"All the lads (Keep It Simple Syndicate) are from Clane and are a great bunch of lads and they will have great craic in Clane tonight!"
Gordon Elliott hails "top class" jockey Danny Gilligan after he guided Dee Capo to victory in the Ballymaloe Relish Rising Stars Beginners Chase.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 28, 2024
Watch Day 3 of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival live now on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/zydjKiHCiA
The Ballymaloe Relish Rising Stars Beginners Chase was won by Gordon Elliott’s Dee Capo, who was steered by Danny Gilligan to victory by a neck at a price of 15-2.
"He’s a nice horse and was running a good race the last day in Navan when he made the mistake and fell two out," said Elliott.
"He can go out in trip and he showed a good attitude galloping out to the line."
