Event: Christmas Festival

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

news

City Hall mulls new vision for Cork’s historic Coal Quay

Cork’s historic Coal Quay needs a new vision, City Hall has admitted, conceding that its original vision of creating a thriving market precinct “hasn’t been fully realised”.

racing

Out Sam can give Gordon Elliott Thyestes Chase breakthrough

Msassa set to continue juvenile hurdlers’ good run

news

Santa’s workshop sets Cork a-Glow for Christmas festival

racing

Holeinthewall Bar can serve up overdue win

racing

On-course betting continues to toil

Leopardstown: Market gets it spectacularly wrong as Mouchoir blows rivals away

For much of the four days and 28 races of the Leopardstown meeting, the market was the most reliable guide but it got it spectacularly wrong in the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle, the feature on the final day of the Christmas Festival, as Petit Mouchoir belied a spectacular drift with a performance which put him firmly in the Champion Hurdle picture.

Sun, 01 Jan, 2017

Classic ensemble wins Ladies’ Day award at Leopardstown

Classic 1950s style stole the day at Leopardstown yesterday where a Cork woman dressed in Donegal tweed won the Ladies’ Day award.

Sun, 01 Jan, 2017

Weather proves a good bet for racegoers

More than €1m was placed in bets as the rain held off to give festival-goers a thrilling first day at the races in Leopardstown.

Tue, 27 Dec, 2016

Set out your stall for the Christmas festival experience

All across the country, thousands of rosy-cheeked revellers are delighting in the festive cheer of Christmas markets. Kelly O’Brien takes us through the best the country has to offer.

Mon, 05 Dec, 2016

Davy Russell: People looking at whip issue the wrong way

Davy Russell has joined the debate over the whip rules - a hot topic following some recent high-profile bans - maintaining people are looking at it the wrong way.

Sat, 09 Jan, 2016

Theophilus worth waiting for in the last race at Punchestown today

Theophilus can take the closing race on a tricky card this afternoon at Punchestown.

Sat, 09 Jan, 2016

Nichols Canyon digs deep for Ryanair Chase success

Following a dogged display in the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle on the final day of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, Champion Hurdle second-favourite Nichols Canyon drew comparisons with Hurricane Fly from his trainer, Willie Mullins, but much more remains to be done if the five-year-old is to emulate his revered former stable-companion.

Wed, 30 Dec, 2015

No Gold Cup clues as Don Poli scrapes home to give Willie Mullins first win in Lexus Chase

The Lexus Chase, the feature on day three of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, may have done little to help solve the Cheltenham Gold Cup conundrum but it served up a thriller as Don Poli gave champion trainer Willie Mullins success in the race for the first time.

Tue, 29 Dec, 2015

PICS: Leather and feather proves a winner for Carol Kennelly Leopardstown Christmas Festival

Acclaimed Kerry milliner managed to get more use than most out of the Christmas turkey.

Tue, 29 Dec, 2015

Today's Tips: Don Poli can give Willie Mullins first Lexus success at Leopardstown

Trainer Willie Mullins has never won the Lexus Chase, but Don Poli can right that wrong by taking the feature on day three of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival.

Mon, 28 Dec, 2015

Today's Tips: Douvan can deliver at Leopardstown

Only four runners have been declared for the featured Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase on day one of the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown, but it’s a tremendous race, in which Douvan is marginally preferred to Sizing John.

Thu, 24 Dec, 2015

Henry de Bromhead to give Identity Thief Leopardstown option

Identity Thief will be given an entry in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival as trainer Henry de Bromhead contemplates the next run for his Fighting Fifth winner.

Mon, 07 Dec, 2015

Black Hercules can get chasing career off to good start at Navan

Navan is not where I expected to be this afternoon, but I suppose it was better to find out early in the week at home that Un De Sceaux was a bit flat than when leaving the Railway Fences and wondering why he wasn’t picking up going to the Pond Fence.

Sat, 05 Dec, 2015

Bryan Cooper just wants more of the same this Christmas

Most of Bryan Cooper’s Christmas wishes came through last year and Gigginstown’s retained jockey is hoping for more of the same later this month.

Fri, 04 Dec, 2015

‘Flat’ Un De Sceaux to miss Tingle Creek

Ante-post favourite Un De Sceaux will not run in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday, with trainer Willie Mullins describing his star two-miler as a “little flat”.

Thu, 03 Dec, 2015

Who needs Lapland? Winterval is like walking in a Waterford wonderland

Why go to Lapland when you can have a merry old time at Winterval, asks Tommy Barker

Thu, 03 Dec, 2015

Gordon Elliott has Willie Mullins in his sights

Gordon Elliott has outlined his ambition to overcome the seemingly unstoppable Willie Mullins and become Ireland’s top National Hunt trainer.

Wed, 02 Dec, 2015

These ten things prove Santa Claus is actually from Cork

We always suspected the North Pole was a decoy...

Mon, 30 Nov, 2015

Leopardstown to invest €12m in next phase of redevelopment

Leopardstown has annnounced it is to invest €12m in the next phase of the revelopment of its facilicites.

Tue, 24 Nov, 2015

AP McCoy - the jockey of a lifetime

Spurs fans look away now, but Arsene Wenger was on the money.

Sat, 25 Apr, 2015

Stars realign for Ryanair rematch

Hurricane Fly and Jezki face off for the sixth time at Leopardstown today in a fascinating clash for the Ryanair Hurdle.

Mon, 29 Dec, 2014

Leopardstown raring to go with vintage Christmas Festival in prospect

Leopardstown officials are gearing up for what promises to be a vintage four-day Christmas Festival.

Wed, 24 Dec, 2014

Mark your diary for Christmas festive fun

There’s so much to do in the run up to Christmas, it can be hard to decide how to make the most of the festive fun. Take some tips from Ellie O’Byrne.

Sat, 06 Dec, 2014

Jezki seeking Ryanair revenge

Jessica Harrington has reported Jezki in good form and on target for another instalment of the rivalry with Hurricane Fly in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 29.

Tue, 02 Dec, 2014

Ferof features in Ryanair dozen

Al Ferof, Benefficient and Dynaste are among 12 runners in Thursday’s Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, with First Lieutenant a significant absentee.

Wed, 12 Mar, 2014

Racecourse gallop likely for My Tent Or Yours

My Tent Or Yours is likely to go down the racecourse gallop route in his preparation for the Stan James Champion Hurdle after trainer Nicky Henderson ruled out a trip to Wincanton.

Fri, 07 Feb, 2014

Walsh and Nicholls team up with Tidal Bay

Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh will be reunited when Tidal Bay tackles the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Wed, 05 Feb, 2014

‘Special’ Vautour excites Ricci

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite Vautour could take in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday ahead of his trip to Cheltenham in March.

Mon, 03 Feb, 2014

Hughes retains faith in Conor

Dessie Hughes is confident Our Conor will head to the Cheltenham Festival with a “fighting chance” of claiming Champion Hurdle glory after making Hurricane Fly pull out all the stops at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Tue, 28 Jan, 2014

Late scare for Fly in record bid

Hurricane Fly will have to put a late scare behind him when he bids to claim an historic fourth successive victory in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Sat, 25 Jan, 2014

Assembly may go straight to RSA

Trainer Pat Fahy will consider sending stable star Morning Assembly straight for the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival without another run.

Mon, 13 Jan, 2014

Unioniste still in the Lexus picture

A tilt at the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28 is “looking likely” for Unioniste.

Tue, 17 Dec, 2013

Teenager coder app-y to help visitors to festival

One of the youngest app developers in Europe has turned his attention to his native city and designed a new app for visitors to the Winterval festival.

Wed, 04 Dec, 2013

Hurricane Fly ‘will strip fitter at Christmas’

Willie Mullins has unveiled a powerful team for the marquee races at this year’s Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

Tue, 03 Dec, 2013

Choirs set to branch out into singing tree at Waterford's Winterval festival

Ireland’s first and only “singing Christmas tree” is looking for choirs to help it spread the festive message in the coming weeks.

Wed, 13 Nov, 2013

Solwhit ‘coming on lovely’, says Byrnes

Charles Byrnes has the Leopardstown Christmas Festival as the first major target of the season for his World Hurdle hero Solwhit.

Sat, 12 Oct, 2013

Stars on show in fantastic Lexus

Flemenstar and Sir Des Champs are the star names among nine runners in a fantastic renewal of the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Friday.

Thu, 27 Dec, 2012

High hopes for Leopardstown

Leopardstown officials are optimistic they have escaped the worst of the rain ahead of their four-day Christmas festival, which begins on St Stephen's Day.

Sat, 22 Dec, 2012

Retailers remain optimistic despite chilly forecast

A forecast of cold weather over the next few days combined with the potential impact of the budget on spending has sent a chill through retailers across the county.

Tue, 11 Dec, 2012

Meade: Pandorama on course for Lexus return

Barring any late setback, Pandorama will make his long-awaited return to action in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown later this month.

Wed, 05 Dec, 2012

Armchair supporter

PICK OF THE DAY

Sat, 24 Dec, 2011

Bostons Angel schools well in blinkers ahead of Lexus

WE are just undergoing a little bit of a lull in the yard at the moment and didn’t have a great week, but there have only been seven runners between last Saturday and last night.

Sat, 17 Dec, 2011

Bumper crowds expected for Dun Laoghaire Christmas festival

The organisers of Dun Laoghaire's first ever Christmas festival say they expect more than 200,000 people to visit the town between now and January 8.

Sat, 10 Dec, 2011

Hoping to unravel Mystic’s desire to win

THE Christmas festival at Leopardstown was launched on Tuesday and it really is an event you look forward to.

Sat, 10 Dec, 2011