Review leopardstown 26th Dec

< Defy Logic burst the Champagne Fever bubble in the Racing Post Novice Chase on the first day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

Paul Nolan's 7-2 shot went head to head in front with the odds-on market leader and kicked on when Champagne Fever made a bad mistake at the second-last obstacle.

The grey wasn't given too hard a race after that and eventually finished third, but Defy Logic kept pulling out more in the hands of Mark Walsh and triumphed by three and a half lengths from Trifolium

There was a shock in the Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle, with hot favourite Analifet being pulled out of the race when in front before halfway.

That left Clarcam and Guitar Pete (9-2) to fight out the finish, with the latter seizing the initiative on the run to the final flight and he quickened well to cross the line with seven lengths in hand.

Guitar Pete's jockey Bryan Cooper followed up when producing the Nolan-trained King Vuvuzela (5-1) with a well-timed challenge in the Racing Post All You Need For Irish Racing Handicap Chase.

There were plenty in with chances at the last, but Cooper hadn't asked his mount for maximum effort and, when he did, the response was impressive as he stormed two and three-quarter lengths clear of Cairdin on the run-in.< Clondaw Court had to pull out all the stops to land odds of 2-9 in the Bookmakers Bar At Bewleys Hotel Leopardstown Maiden Hurdle, overjumping at the last before reeling in long-time leader Little Rocky only in the dying strides.

Useful bumper performer Western Boy (12-1) looks like making up into an even better hurdler, judging by his impressive success in the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle.

Davy Russell suffered misfortune on Analifet, but gained some compensation when registering his 1,000th NH win on the Charles Byrnes-trained 7-4 favourite Sea Light in the Copper Face Jacks Handicap Hurdle.