Each-Way Terms at Leopardstown Christmas Festival 2026
Last updated: November 2026 — 18+ | Gambling Awareness Trust | 1800 753 753
The Leopardstown Christmas Festival runs from 26-29 December and is one of the highlights of the Irish jumps racing calendar. Each-way betting is especially popular here — here's how to understand the terms on offer.
Standard each-way terms at Leopardstown
Each-way place terms at Leopardstown depend on the number of runners in the race. The standard structure at most bookmakers is:
- 5-7 runners: 2 places, 1/4 odds
- 8+ runners: 3 places, 1/5 odds (most bookmakers) or 1/4 odds (some each-way specialists)
- Handicaps with 12+ runners: typically 4 places, 1/5 odds
Best Odds Guaranteed and each-way at Leopardstown
BOG applies to both the win and place parts of an each-way bet at most bookmakers. If you take an early price on a Leopardstown runner and the SP is bigger at the off, you receive SP for both components. This can significantly improve your return on drifting horses in competitive festival fields.
Extra place offers at Christmas
Several bookmakers run extra place promotions during the Christmas Festival — paying 4 or 5 places instead of the standard 3, often at standard 1/5 odds. These are promoted as 'Extra Place' or '5-Place Racing'. Check promotional pages at participating bookmakers in the week before the Festival.
Key races and typical field sizes
The Leopardstown Christmas Festival features both Graded hurdle and chase races (typically 6-12 runners, standard 3-place terms) and handicaps (often 15-24 runners, 4-place terms at most bookmakers). The Grade 1 races on Day 2 (27 December) and the Leopardstown Chase on Day 3 attract the biggest fields and most competitive each-way markets.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Leopardstown Christmas Festival: EW Terms by Race
| Race Type | Field Size | EW Fraction | Places Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 non-handicap | 5–10 | 1/4 odds | 1–2 |
| Handicap hurdle/chase | 12–20 | 1/5 odds | 1–3 |
| Handicap hurdle/chase | 20+ | 1/5 odds | 1–4 |
| Bumper (N.H. flat) | 8–16 | 1/4 odds | 1–2 |
| Maiden hurdle | 8–14 | 1/4 odds | 1–2 |
Leopardstown Christmas Festival: Key Races
- Day 1 (26 Dec): Leopardstown Chase (Gr.1, 3m) – Gold Cup trial
- Day 2 (27 Dec): Christmas Hurdle (Gr.1, 2m) – Champion Hurdle trial
- Day 3 (28 Dec): Savills Chase (Gr.1, 3m) – most valuable race of the festival
- Day 4 (29 Dec): Ryanair Hurdle (Gr.1, 2m) + Irish Gold Cup preview races
Leopardstown Christmas Festival: Race Guide and Each-Way Terms
| Race | Grade | Distance | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leopardstown Chase | Grade 1 | 3m | 27 December |
| Neville Hotels Novice Chase | Grade 1 | 2.5m | 26 December |
| Future Champions Novice Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m | 27 December |
| Christmas Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m | 28 December |
Each-Way Terms at Leopardstown Christmas
Grade 1 races at Leopardstown Christmas typically have small fields (5-10 runners). Standard each-way terms: 1/4 odds, 1-2 places for 5-7 runners and 1-3 places for 8+ runners. Handicap races at the same meeting may carry better terms.
- Small field races: in a 5-runner Grade 1, each-way only pays 2 places at 1/4 the win odds — consider win-only on market leaders
- Handicap chases: bigger fields (10-16 runners) mean more places paid; each-way here is better value for 10/1+ outsiders
- Cheltenham connection: Grade 1 winners and placed horses here often shorten significantly in the Cheltenham ante-post markets
See also: Each-Way Betting Explained • Best Odds Guaranteed Ireland • Horse Racing Betting • Each-Way Calculator