When it comes to the festive period each year, one major horse racing meeting that is especially popular amongst enthusiasts and casual watchers is the Leopardstown Festival. Taking place over four action-packed days, this event is a staple of Ireland's sporting calendar, offering top-tier races, world-class jockeys and an overall thrilling atmosphere for fans to watch.
History Of Leopardstown Festival
Regarding the Leopardstown Festival, this has a storied history that dates back to the mid-20th century, with this horse racing meeting frequently being referred to as the Christmas Festival. The Leopardstown Festival takes place in County Dublin at the Leopardstown Racecourse, which has been a hub for Irish horse racing since it was established back in 1888. However, with the creation of the multi-day Leopardstown Christmas Festival, this venue became an iconic destination for horse racing fans across the globe.
Over the years, Leopardstown Festival has significantly grown, continuing to assert itself as a must-see horse racing event during the holiday season. This takes place annually between the 26th and 29th of December, attracting some of the best horses, trainers, and jockeys from Ireland and beyond. With Grade 1 races like the Savills Chase and the Future Champions Novice Hurdle, the Leopardstown Festival is known for its thrilling competitions and prestigious titles, the latter of which may predict success in the upcoming Cheltenham Festival .
Last Year’s Leopardstown Festival
The 2023 edition of the Leopardstown Festival certainly didn't disappoint, delivering four days of spectacular horse racing with its fair share of unforgettable moments. Over 60,000 people attended the festival last year, a testament to the meetings' immense and continuously growing popularity. One of the standout performances actually came from trainer Gordon Elliot, with them taking home wins in both the South Dublin Juvenile Hurdle and the Racing Post Novice Chase on St Stephen's Day. It was in the latter which Found A Fifty shocked Willie Mullins’ favourite Facile Vega in the Grade One race, kickstarting the 2023 Leopardstown Festival with excitement.
Speaking of Willie Mullins, it was on the final day of the festival that the inevitable trainer claimed a treble of victories at Leopardstown. Horses such as Ballyburn, Grangeclare West and Cheltenham challenger State Man all won their respective races, with the latter already being tipped to rival Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill.
Amongst some of the other most notable events at Leopardstown Festival 2023 was Galopin Des Champs claiming victory in the Savills Chase, solidifying its reputation as one of the best chasers in recent years. Following his victory at Leopardstown, Galopin Des Champs also went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the second year running, with the Savills Chase proving to be a good marker for this prestigious race. Going into the 2024 Leopardstown Christmas Festival, Galopin will also be hoping to claim victory once again in hopes of spurring on a momentous 3rd consecutive victory in the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup .
The Future Champions Novice Hurdle saw an intense battle, with Marine Nationale emerging victorious, their performance setting the stage for its continued success at Cheltenham later in the year.
What To Expect From Leopardstown Festival 2024
As we look ahead to the 2024 Leopardstown Festival, expectations are sky-high. The lineup of races promises to deliver another round of thrilling action, with some of the sport’s biggest names expected to compete. Here’s a breakdown of what to look forward to:
Day 1
The opening day of the Leopardstown festival sets the tone with high-quality racing, including the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase. This two-mile Grade 1 chase is always a crowd-pleaser, drawing top-class two-mile chasers from across Ireland and the UK. Fans are eagerly anticipating a showdown between Captain Guinness, backed by Rachel Blackmore and French Mare Dinoblue, as well as other runners such as Gentleman De Mee, being ridden by Paul Townsend at this year's Leopardstown Christmas Festival.
Day 2
Day 2 is headlined by the Future Champions Novice Hurdle, a Grade 1 contest that often highlights potential Cheltenham stars. This year at Leopardstown Festival, all eyes are on Salvator Mundi, a promising novice trained by Willie Mullins, as he faces stiff competition from Bleu De Vassy and other rising stars.
Day 3
The third day of the Leopardstown festival is dominated by one of its most prestigious races, the Savills Chase. This Grade 1 race over three miles attracts the best steeplechasers, and the 2024 edition is shaping up to be another classic. Reigning champion Galopin Des Champs is expected to return to defend his title, with fierce competition likely from Fact To File and I Am Maximus, winner of the Grand National, also filling out the pack of contenders.
In addition to the Savills Chase, Day 3 of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival features the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown Festival, a key contest for Ireland’s top hurdlers. Fans can expect a clash between exciting campaigners like Teahupoo and Home By The Lee, both rising stars in the hurdling division.
Day 4
The final day of the Leopardstown festival brings the Matheson Hurdle, a two-mile Grade 1 race that consistently delivers high drama. Defending champion State Man is expected to return, facing off against Brighterdaysahead and other top-class hurdlers like Lossiemouth. Day 4 also includes the concluding handicaps and novice races, providing a fitting end to the festival’s four days of excitement.
Where To Watch Leopardstown Festival 2024?
With Leopardstown Festival being such a popular festival around the Christmas period, you may be wondering where you can watch this horse racing spectacle. Conveniently, all of the action from this year's 2024 Leopardstown Festival can be caught right here on our BoyleSports site. As the Christmas festival is shaping up to be another unforgettable meeting, Leopardstown offers something for every horse racing fan, with top-class racing being in store at this historic racecourse.