Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland played host to the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle on Monday, March 2, 2026, a contest that saw Vitorio Piel emerge victorious. The 2m hurdle race, run on soft to heavy ground with nine obstacles, offered a first-place prize of €11,780. The event drew six runners, each vying for a share of the €20,000 prize pool, with subsequent places awarded €4,000, €2,000, €999, and smaller amounts for sixth place.
Vitorio Piel, a six-year-old gelding trained by Emmet Mullins and ridden by Donagh Meyler, secured the win after a compelling performance. According to Racing Post, the horse was positioned in second, briefly taking the lead before being overtaken, ultimately regaining control and finishing strongly in the run-in. The gelding, sired by Spanish Moon (USA) out of Blue Arrow (FR), started at odds of 9/4.
A Close Finish for Grey Jude
Grey Jude (IRE), the 8/11 favorite trained by Connor King and ridden by Daniel King, finished a close second, 6½ lengths behind Vitorio Piel. The five-year-old gelding led for much of the race but encountered a slow jump, briefly relinquishing the lead before regaining it. However, Grey Jude couldn’t match the finishing speed of the winner, fading in the final stretch. The Racing Post noted that Grey Jude was “no extra run-in.”
Chichester Park Completes the Podium
Completing the top three was Chichester Park, a six-year-old gelding trained by A J Martin and ridden by Keith Donoghue. Finishing 1¼ lengths behind Grey Jude, Chichester Park raced in third position for much of the race but lacked the pace to challenge the leaders in the final stages. Sky Sports reported that the horse was “outpaced run-in.”
Somersby Roost and Mister Persistence Further Back
Somersby Roost (IRE), ridden by Phillip Enright and trained by Oliver McKiernan, finished fourth, while Mister Persistence (IRE), with Mark McDonagh in the saddle and Sean O O’Brien as the trainer, came in fifth. Both horses faced challenges during the race, with Somersby Roost making headway but weakening in the run-in and Mister Persistence experiencing awkward jumps and losing position earlier in the race. Mister Persistence started at odds of 300/1.
Ryan’s Son Trailing the Field
Bringing up the rear was Ryan’s Son (IRE), ridden by Sean Flanagan and trained by Liz Doyle. The gelding lost touch before the second-last hurdle and finished 8½ lengths behind fifth-place Mister Persistence. The race was completed in a time of 4 minutes and 10.50 seconds, considered slow by 20 seconds according to the Racing Post.
The Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle continues to be a key event in the Irish National Hunt calendar, providing a platform for up-and-coming horses and jockeys. The race, run over two miles on testing ground, demands both stamina and jumping ability, qualities demonstrated by the winning performance of Vitorio Piel.
The next scheduled race at Leopardstown is yet to be announced, but further details and upcoming fixtures can be found on the Racing Post website and Sky Sports Racing.
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