Leopardstown reports, reaction and free video replays from Saturday

Late fall hands Grade One prize to Skylight Hustle

There was late drama in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle with Talk The Talk crumpling on landing and falling at the last when seemingly all set to land the Grade One contest.

Joseph O’Brien’s charge had crept into the contest under Sam Ewing and had just gone to the front when crashing out at the final flight.

That left 3/1 favourite Skylight Hustle back at the head of affairs and he stayed there for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy, beating Carrigmoornaspruce by five lengths.

It was a further three-and-a-half back to Love Me tender in third.

The sponsors cut the winner to 20/1 for the Sky Bet Supreme and introduced Talk The Talk at 12/1.

Spokesman for Sky Bet Michael Shinners said: "Skylight Hustle continued the brilliant form of Gordon Elliott, although if Talk The Talk had stood up perhaps things would've been different.

"The Sky Bet Supreme betting has certainly come to life over the festive period and currently El Cairos heads the market with us at 5/1."

“I don’t know if we’d have won but we definitely weren’t beaten and Jack (Kennedy) felt the same,” the winning trainer Gordon Elliott told Racing TV. “We were unlucky yesterday with El Cairos, that’s jumps racing and the name of the game but I’m delighted to win.

“He’s come on again today. To be honest I think there’s a bit more improvement in him. He doesn’t look well for one of my horses, walking around the ring he hasn’t the best of skins so I think if we can rectify a few things there’s improvement in him.

“He got a bit lit up at Fairyhouse last time so we said we’d drop him in and take our time today. Halfway down the back I wasn’t sure it was that good an idea but Jack said when the gaps came he took them. I’m absolutely delighted.

“I think he’s stay further and if he goes further it might suit him better because he has boot and you can drop him in and ride a race. He’s a good horse.”

Skylight Hustle was completing a double for the winning trainer after Hardy Stuff sprang a 20/1 surprise in the opener, under Ewing.

Bloodless all-the-way win for Kargese

Kargese ran out a bloodless winner of the Paddy Power From The Horses Mouth Podcast Beginners Chase for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

The 10/11 favourite set out make every yard of the running and was never headed, jumping slickly in the main.

Almost from the start James’s Gate was her only real pursuer but he took a crashing fall at the final ditch, which was the second last fence with the two down the home straight dolled off, and unfortunately it was a life-ending incident for the horse.

Lovely Hurling (7/4) ran on into second but was flattered to get within 14 lengths of the eased down winner.

The sponsors and Sky Bet cut Kargese to 20s from 25s for the Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham and 12s from 16s for the Arkle.

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