Leopardstown Christmas Festival 2026 is one of the most keenly anticipated fixtures in the Irish racing calendar. This guide covers the main betting markets, ante-post strategy and what Irish punters should know before backing at this meeting.
About the Meeting
The Leopardstown Christmas Festival runs over four days from 26 to 29 December and is Ireland's most prestigious jumps racing meeting of the winter. Featuring multiple Grade 1 races including the Leopardstown Chase, Savills Chase, and Irish Champion Hurdle trials, the meeting draws the best National Hunt horses in training from Ireland and Britain. The Savills Chase and the Racing Post Novice Chase are among the most keenly anticipated Grade 1 races of the Christmas period, often featuring horses on the Cheltenham Festival ante-post markets.
Main Betting Markets
- Race-by-race match betting: Standard win and each-way markets on every race across the meeting.
- Ante-post feature race: Pre-meeting markets on the flagship race — typically the Grade 1 or Group 1 highlight. These open weeks in advance and offer better prices than race-day markets at the cost of non-runner risk.
- Top trainer / jockey: Which trainer or jockey sends out the most winners across the meeting — popular novelty markets at multi-day festivals.
- Each-way betting: Most bookmakers offer 4 places at 1/4 odds for large-field handicaps and 3 places for smaller fields. Always check terms before placing.
Ante-Post Betting Strategy
Ante-post prices for feature races open weeks or months before the meeting. The best value typically comes 4–8 weeks before the race, once the likely field takes shape but before market leaders attract significant money. Non-runner risk is real — always check whether the bookmaker offers non-runner money back for the specific market before placing.
Responsible Betting at Racing Festivals
Multi-day meetings can generate significant cumulative betting spend. Set a daily budget before each day of the festival and treat it as your maximum regardless of earlier results. Contact the Gambling Awareness Trust at 1800 753 753 or visit gamblingcare.ie. 18+ only.
GRAI remote betting licence in force. 18+ only, T&Cs apply.
Compare Betting Odds →Frequently Asked Questions
Leopardstown Christmas Festival 2026: Race Schedule
| Date | Feature race | Grade | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 December | Neville Hotels Novice Chase | Grade 1 | 2m 4f |
| 27 December | Leopardstown Chase | Grade 1 | 3m |
| 27 December | Future Champions Novice Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m |
| 28 December | Christmas Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m |
| 29 December | Paddy Power Handicap Chase | Listed | 2m |
Leopardstown Christmas Festival Betting: Key Tips
Leopardstown Christmas (26–29 December) is Ireland's biggest National Hunt meeting of the year. Grade 1 races here serve as the most direct Cheltenham Festival trials outside of February's Dublin Racing Festival. Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott dominate the meeting — checking their intended runners from declarations (usually released 48 hours before) is essential for identifying market movers.
- Going: Leopardstown at Christmas is typically soft–heavy after winter rain; hold-up horses and those with proven soft-ground form are preferred over front-runners
- Cheltenham connection: Grade 1 winners and placed horses here often enter Cheltenham ante-post markets on Monday morning after racing
- Each-way terms: Grade 1 small-field races (5–8 runners): 1/4 odds, 1–2 places; handicap races (12–20 runners): 1/4 odds, 3–4 places
- Live streaming: RTE typically shows major races; in-play betting available on most GRAI-licensed apps
Ante-post betting offers better prices than race-day markets but carries non-runner risk. If your selection is withdrawn before the race, most ante-post bets are lost unless non-runner money-back is offered. For feature races with strong ante-post markets, check terms carefully before placing.
Standard each-way terms at Irish racecourses are typically 4 places at 1/4 odds for races with 8 or more runners. Terms vary by race type and field size — handicaps often offer better each-way terms than conditions races. Always check with your bookmaker before placing.
Yes — all major horse racing betting in Ireland is covered by GRAI-licensed bookmakers. The GRAI licence No. GRAI-0191-RB-26-0001 covers remote betting operations including horse racing markets for Irish punters.
In-play betting during individual horse races is not widely available as races last only a few minutes. However, some bookmakers offer in-running markets for longer races. Pre-race in-play markets on the day of racing offer improved information over ante-post prices.