Review leopardstown 26th Dec

< Footpad produced a sparkling performance to land the Grade One Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Already market leader for the Arkle after making a victorious fencing bow at Navan, the 4-6 favourite took closer order when Avenir D'Une Vie s fall left Jett in front, and a mistake from the latter then allowed Footpad to go clear at the third-last.

Paul Townend didn't have to break sweat for Footpad to skip effortlessly away and defeat Any Second Now by 11 lengths, with Death Duty beaten when coming down at the last.

His trainer Willie Mullins completed a brace when 5-4 favourite Blackbow took the Lep Inn Flat Race.

Espoir D'Allen confirmed his position as the best three-year-old hurdler in Ireland by taking his unbeaten record to five in the Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle.

Having cruised to the front on the run to the last, a slightly untidy leap gave the Gordon Elliott pair of Mitchouka and Farclas some hope, but Mark Walsh pushed the 1-2 favourite out to dispose of the latter by a length and a quarter.< Debuchet had to settle for fourth on his jumping bow in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Maiden Hurdle.

Mags Mullins' high-class bumper performer took the last in a share of the lead with Cask Mate and Antey but the trio were swamped by the Henry de Bromhead-trained 50-1 outsider Ellie Mac who beat Cask Mate by two and a half lengths.

De Bromhead followed up when Paloma Blue got off the mark over obstacles in the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle.

The 4-1 chance hit the front early in the straight and readily held off the challenge of Impact Factor by a couple of lengths.

De Bromhead completed a treble when Tisamystery (16-1) just held the late lunge of Bel Ami De Sivola in the 'Bet Through The Racing Post App' Handicap Chase, while Sparky Stowaway (10-1) broke his duck in the Cardinal Capital Handicap Hurdle.