Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins took the final day's Grade One spoils of the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown.
Battleoverdoyen continued his perfect record over fences in the Neville Hotels Grade One Novice Chase. His task was made significantly easier by all but two of the remaining field defecting.
Battleoverdoyen makes light work of a small field leading from start to finish under @_Davy_Russel_ for @gelliott_racing beating a late challenge from stable mate Champagne Classic pic.twitter.com/Yydg0Iq2GG
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) December 29, 2019
Stablemate Champagne Classic gave trainer Gordon Elliott a 1-2 in the three runner affair. The public was deprived of any sort of contest with the late withdrawals of Cheltenham festival winner Minella Indo and Willie Mullins' Carefully Selected.
The win completes a spectacular few days for Gordon Elliott at the Foxrock venue. There are seven Grade One races at Leopardstown at the Christmas festival.
Battleoverdoyen secured a fourth of those seven for the Cullentra handler, while Roaring Bull nabbed the big Paddy Power handicap chase for the trainer too.
Henry DeBromhead took two of the festive Grade Ones with Notebook and A Plus Tard earlier in the week.
Final Grade One
The final top-level race of the festive period went to a familiar home in Closutton. The Willie Mullins trained Sharjah got he better of former stablemate Petit Mouchoir. It was a record seventh success in the race for the trainer.
Despite the joy of success for Mullins, there was a disappointment as the winner's stablemate Klassical Dream, who went off the odds-on favourite, made a dramatic error down the back when disputing the lead. He never recovered from the mistake.
It's back to back wins in the Matheson Hurdle for Sharjah and trainer @WillieMullinsNH pic.twitter.com/nEJxlmWzOv
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) December 29, 2019
Patrick Mullins was on board Sharjah, completing a memorable Christmas for Mullins junior, who was on board Faugheen when winning at Limerick.
The winning rider said after the race: "I was able to arrive just as I wanted to at the last. Down to the last, I thought he was going to win on the bridle.
"Then I realised I didn't want to miss this (hurdle) and he needed pushing. He did it well in the end.
"Maybe he does want this good ground and I would love another crack at it (Champion Hurdle)."
The race concluded a mixed Christmas for the Mullins team, who suffered several high-profile defeats over the four days including Chacun Pour Soi, Kemboy, Ferny Hollow, Bacardys, Allaho and Ciel de Neige at short prices.
Team Closutton will be disappointed with just nine winners from their 70 runners over the four days.
