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Recap: Leopardstown Christmas Festival Day 2; big day for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend

With Limerick rained off, all eyes were on Leopardstown for Irish racing on Sunday

Ken McGuire by Ken McGuire
Monday 28 December, 2020
in Horse Racing
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Castlebawn West ridden by Paul Townend lands over the last to win The Paddy Power Steeplechase from Minella Times ridden by Rachael Blackmore.

Castlebawn West ridden by Paul Townend lands over the last to win The Paddy Power Steeplechase from Minella Times ridden by Rachael Blackmore. Photo: Caroline Norris/Racing Post

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend had a day to remember at day two of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival for 2020.

The pair combined for a big-race treble, spearheaded by a scintillating performance from Chacun Pour Soi (4/7 favourite) in the Grade One Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase.

At eight years old, Chacun hardly put a foot wrong when disposing of Henry de Bromhead’s Notebook (7/2) by six and a half lengths to strengthen his position as the leading two-mile chaser with a return to Leopardstown for the Dublin Racing Festival in February next on his agenda.

Willie Mullins with the trophy for The Paddy Power Steeplechase won by Castlebawn West and Paul Townend
Willie Mullins with the trophy for The Paddy Power Steeplechase won by Castlebawn West and Paul Townend. Photo: Caroline Norris/Racing Post

Mullins and Townend also took the other Grade One up for grabs with Champion Bumper runner-up Appreciate It (7/4 favourite) making it two from two over the smaller obstacles when turning the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle into a procession.

Appreciate It had tongues wagging when coming home nine lengths clear in a flawless display while things got even better for Mullins when top-weight Castlebawn West (13/2) made every post a winning one under the Cork jockey to land the Paddy Power Chase.

Chacun Pour Soi and Paul Townend.
Chacun Pour Soi and Paul Townend. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post

The €150,000 contest is normally one of the most competitive handicaps of the jumps season, but Castlebawn West dictated affairs from the front to coast home by four and a half lengths, earning quotes for the Gold Cup and the Aintree Grand National in the process.

Horse racing at Leopardstown.
Horse racing at Leopardstown. Photo: Caroline Norris/Racing Post

The most impressive winner of the day, however, came in the opener when the Denis O’Regan-ridden French Aseel (7/2 favourite) ran out a 22-length winner of the Paddy Power “Only 4 More Days Until 2021′” 3yo Maiden Hurdle for Kilkenny trainer Ellmarie Holden.

Racing on Day 3

Savills Day on 28 December features the Savills Chase (Grade 1), a race rich in history that has been won by legends of the turf such as Beef or Salmon, Tidal Bay and Bobs Worth.

The feature race is a key indicator of the best-staying chasers in Ireland and is the target for all the leading yards the Savills Chase always produces a memorable finish.

Here’s how the race card for day three looks.

Race 1 12.15pm The Tote.ie Maiden Hurdle 4yo 20f
Race 2 12.50pm The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle 4yo+ 24f
Race 3 1.25pm The Ballymaloe Foods Beginners Steeplechase 4yo+ 21f
Race 4 2.00pm The Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) 4yo+ 24f
Race 5 2.35pm The Irish Daily Star Christmas Novice Handicap Hurdle 4yo+ 16f
Race 6 3.10pm The Savills Steeplechase (Grade 1) 5yo+ 24f
Race 7 3.40pm The Midland Legal Solicitors Flat Race 4yo+ 16f
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