St Stephen's Day (26 December) marks the opening day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, one of the most prestigious National Hunt meetings in Ireland. Grade 1 races, top trainers and thousands of racegoers make this one of the highest-betting days of the Irish racing year.
Leopardstown Christmas Festival
The Leopardstown Christmas Festival runs from 26 to 29 December. The opening day on St Stephen's Day typically features several Grade 1 National Hunt races including top novice hurdles and chases that set the form guide for Cheltenham in March. Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, the two dominant forces in Irish National Hunt racing, typically send strong teams.
Leopardstown Racecourse is located in south County Dublin, easily accessible from the city centre. Online betting is available for the full card at all GRAI-licensed bookmakers.
Key Races and Markets
- Grade 1 novice hurdle: This race often features the season's leading novice hurdler ahead of Cheltenham
- Grade 1 novice chase: New chasers are tested over Christmas fences before the spring festivals
- Grade 2 and Grade 3 handicap chases and hurdles: Competitive betting races with less predictable outcomes
Betting Tips for St Stephen's Day
Going (ground conditions) at Leopardstown in late December is typically soft or heavy due to winter weather. Horses that handle soft ground are at a significant advantage. Check the going report on the morning of the meeting. Best Odds Guaranteed promotions from GRAI-licensed bookmakers are worth taking for each race.
Frequently Asked Questions
St Stephen's Day Racing: What's On 26 December
| Racecourse | Type | Feature Race | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leopardstown | National Hunt | Leopardstown Chase (Gr.1) | 3m |
| Limerick | National Hunt | Limerick Christmas Hurdle | 2m |
| Down Royal | National Hunt | Boxing Day Chase | 2m4f |
| Wexford | National Hunt | Festive Hurdle | 2m |
St Stephen's Day Betting Tips
- Leopardstown is the premier Irish racing venue on 26 December – four Grade 1 races across the festival
- Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) active at all major GRAI-licensed bookmakers for Irish meetings
- Ante-post Cheltenham market often moves significantly based on St Stephen's Day performances
- Irish-trained horses dominate the Christmas NH season; consider short prices in non-handicaps
St Stephen's Day Racing in Ireland: Key Meetings
| Meeting | Track | Type | Feature race |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leopardstown Christmas | Leopardstown | NH | Neville Hotels Novice Chase (Gr1) |
| King George VI Chase | Kempton (UK) | NH | King George VI Chase (Gr1) |
| Limerick Christmas | Limerick | NH | Grade 2 chases |
| Down Royal | Down Royal | NH | Various hurdles and chases |
St Stephen's Day Racing Betting Tips
St Stephen's Day (26 December) is one of the biggest racing days of the year in Ireland, with Leopardstown's Christmas Festival beginning and Kempton's King George in the UK. It's a traditional family betting occasion and accounts for significant betting turnover on Irish sites.
- Leopardstown Day 1: Grade 1 novice chase and hurdle races; look for Cheltenham festival implications in the results
- King George at Kempton: available on all Irish GRAI-licensed betting sites; biggest chase outside Cheltenham over Christmas
- Going: Leopardstown on 26 December is usually soft–heavy; Kempton is all-weather (consistent surface regardless of weather)
- Live streaming: RTE shows Leopardstown; check your GRAI-licensed betting app for King George streaming rights
The Leopardstown Christmas Festival opens on 26 December (St Stephen's Day). Racing takes place over four days from 26 to 29 December.
The festival includes multiple Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3 National Hunt races. The Grade 1 novice hurdle and Grade 1 novice chase on St Stephen's Day are the flagship races.
Open an account with a GRAI-licensed bookmaker, complete age verification and deposit. Find the Leopardstown card in the horse racing section. Best Odds Guaranteed is widely offered on festival racing.
Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) means you are paid the Starting Price if it is higher than the odds you took when placing your bet. Most GRAI-licensed bookmakers offer BOG on all Irish racing including the Christmas festivals.