Favourites have won 18 of 36 runnings of the December Hurdle since 1990 in the RaceWatch results database.Sample: 36 runnings · Window: 1990 to 2025 · Source: RaceWatch results database (historical_results)
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December Hurdle roll of honour since 1990
| 2025 | 29 Dec 25 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 6 | 11-5 | 4/6F | Yes | 159 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend | Mrs S Ricci | 8 | 1.00 | Good To Yielding | 2m | |
| 2024 | 29 Dec 24 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 5 | 11-5 | 5/2 | - | 155 | Gordon Elliott | Sam Ewing | Gigginstown House Stud | 6 | 30.00 | Good To Yielding | 2m | |
| 2023 | 29 Dec 23 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 6 | 11-12 | 4/7F | Yes | 166 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend | Mrs J Donnelly | 4 | 3.25 | Soft To Heavy | 2m | |
| 2022 | 29 Dec 22 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 5 | 11-12 | 4/6F | Yes | 164 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend | Mrs J Donnelly | 5 | 4.25 | Soft | 2m | |
| 2021 | 29 Dec 21 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 8 | 11-12 | 5/6F | Yes | 164 | Willie Mullins | Mr P W Mullins | Mrs S Ricci | 6 | 0.30 | Yielding To Soft | 2m | |
| 2020 | 29 Dec 20 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 7 | 11-12 | 11/2 | - | 164 | Willie Mullins | Mr P W Mullins | Mrs S Ricci | 7 | 2.00 | Soft | 2m | |
| 2019 | 29 Dec 19 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 6 | 11-10 | 9/2 | - | 162 | Willie Mullins | Mr P W Mullins | Mrs S Ricci | 5 | 3.75 | Yielding | 2m | |
| 2018 | 29 Dec 18 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 5 | 11-10 | 6/1 | - | 156 | Willie Mullins | Mr P W Mullins | Mrs S Ricci | 6 | 3.75 | Good To Yielding | 2m | |
| 2017 | 29 Dec 17 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 6 | 11-10 | 14/1 | - | 150 | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell | George P Mahoney | 5 | 1.75 | Soft | 2m | |
| 2016 | 29 Dec 16 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 5 | 11-10 | 6/1 | - | 151 | Henry de Bromhead | B J Cooper | Gigginstown House Stud | 5 | 7.00 | Yielding | 2m | |
| 2015 | 29 Dec 15 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 5 | 11-10 | 2/5F | Yes | 160 | Willie Mullins | R Walsh | Andrea Graham Wylie | 4 | 2.00 | Heavy | 2m | |
| 2014 | 29 Dec 14 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 10 | 11-10 | 5/6F | Yes | 169 | Willie Mullins | R Walsh | George Creighton Mrs Rose Boyd | 7 | 0.50 | Soft | 2m | |
| 2013 | 29 Dec 13 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 9 | 11-10 | 11/10F | Yes | 175 | Willie Mullins | R Walsh | George Creighton Mrs Rose Boyd | 5 | 2.50 | Soft | 2m | |
| 2012 | 29 Dec 12 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 8 | 11-10 | 1/5F | Yes | 173 | Willie Mullins | R Walsh | George Creighton Mrs Rose Boyd | 5 | 7.00 | Soft | 2m | |
| 2011 | 29 Dec 11 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 4 | 11-0 | 100/30 | - | 142 | D K Weld | Paul Townend | Moyglare Stud Farm | 7 | 1.50 | Soft | 2m | |
| 2010 | 29 Dec 10 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 6 | 11-10 | 8/11F | Yes | 166 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend | George Creighton | 5 | 2.00 | Heavy | 2m | |
| 2009 | 29 Dec 09 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 5 | 11-10 | 8/11F | Yes | 165 | C Byrnes | Davy Russell | Top Of The Hill Syndicate | 6 | 2.00 | Soft | 2m | |
| 2008 | 29 Dec 08 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 8 | 11-10 | 3/1 | - | 160 | Robert Alan Hennessy | P A Carberry | W Hennessy | 9 | 0.50 | Yielding | 2m | |
| 2007 | 29 Dec 07 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 7 | 11-10 | 9/2 | - | 159 | John Queally | Timmy Murphy | M A Ryan | 6 | 1.00 | Good To Yielding | 2m | |
| 2006 | 29 Dec 06 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 8 | 11-12 | 6/4 | - | 167 | C A Murphy | R Walsh | Novices Syndicate | 4 | 1.25 | Heavy | 2m | |
| 2005 | 29 Dec 05 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 7 | 11-12 | 9/4 | - | 166 | C A Murphy | A P McCoy | Novices Syndicate | 5 | 3.00 | Soft | 2m | |
| 2004 | 29 Dec 04 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 5 | 11-12 | 7/1 | - | 146 | Mrs John Harrington | Barry Geraghty | Macs J Racing Syndicate | 6 | 3.00 | Soft | 2m | |
| 2003 | 29 Dec 03 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 4 | 11-7 | 66/1 | - | 130 | M Halford | Adrian Lane | Exors Of The Late Mrs H Johnson | 7 | 1.50 | Yielding | 2m | |
| 2002 | 29 Dec 02 | Leopardstown (IRE) | Liss A Paoraigh (IRE) | 7 | 11-7 | 11/10F | Yes | 151 | John E Kiely | Barry Geraghty | Mrs N Flynn | 5 | 25.00 | Heavy | 2m |
| 2001 | 29 Dec 01 | Leopardstown (IRE) | Istabraq (IRE) | 9 | 11-12 | 4/11F | Yes | 175 | Aidan O'Brien | Charlie Swan | John P McManus | 6 | 0.20 | Yielding | 2m |
| 2000 | 31 Dec 00 | Leopardstown (IRE) | 6 | 12-0 | 5/1 | - | 144 | Mrs John Harrington | Barry Geraghty | Brian Kearney | 7 | 2.00 | Heavy | 2m | |
| 1999 | 29 Dec 99 | Leopardstown (IRE) | Istabraq (IRE) | 7 | 12-0 | 1/8F | Yes | 174 | Aidan O'Brien | Charlie Swan | John P McManus | 6 | 15.00 | Yielding To Soft | 2m |
| 1998 | 29 Dec 98 | Leopardstown (IRE) | Istabraq (IRE) | 6 | 12-0 | 1/10F | Yes | 164 | Aidan O'Brien | Charlie Swan | John P McManus | 3 | 8.00 | Heavy | 2m |
| 1997 | 29 Dec 97 | Leopardstown (IRE) | Istabraq (IRE) | 5 | 12-0 | 1/6F | Yes | - | Aidan O'Brien | Charlie Swan | John P McManus | 5 | 2.50 | Heavy | 2m |
| 1996 | 30 Dec 96 | Leopardstown (IRE) | Theatreworld I (IRE) | 4 | 11-2 | 2/1 | - | - | Aidan O'Brien | Charlie Swan | Mrs John Magnier | 6 | 5.00 | Yielding | 2m |
| 1995 | 31 Dec 95 | Leopardstown (IRE) | Kharasar (IRE) | 5 | 11-7 | 10/1 | - | - | Anthony Mullins | Mark Dwyer | W Hennessy | 10 | 1.50 | Yielding To Soft | 2m |
| 1994 | 29 Dec 94 | Leopardstown (IRE) | Boro Eight (GB) | 8 | 11-7 | 11/10F | Yes | - | P Mullins | Tommy Treacy | Hudson Valley Equine Inc | 4 | 25.00 | Heavy | 2m |
| 1993 | 29 Dec 93 | Leopardstown (IRE) | Fortune And Fame (GB) | 6 | 12-0 | 2/1F | Yes | - | D K Weld | Brendan Sheridan | Dr Michael Smurfit | 7 | 2.00 | Heavy | 2m |
| 1992 | 30 Dec 92 | Leopardstown (IRE) | Novello Allegro (USA) | 4 | 11-2 | 6/1 | - | - | Noel Meade | Charlie Swan | Mrs Rita Polly | 7 | 0.20 | Yielding | 2m |
| 1991 | 29 Dec 91 | Leopardstown (IRE) | Galevilla Express (GB) | 4 | 10-11 | 7/1 | - | - | V Bowens | C N Bowens | Mrs S Doyle | 6 | 0.10 | Yielding | 2m |
| 1990 | 29 Dec 90 | Leopardstown (IRE) | Grabel (GB) | 7 | 11-9 | 2/7F | Yes | - | P Mullins | A Mullins | Patrick F Kehoe | 4 | 6.00 | Heavy | 2m |
Every running we hold since 1990, newest first. Race titles vary with sponsors; the race name as run is in each row. Run as the Bookmakers Hurdle (1990 to 1994), the December (Festival) Hurdle, the Istabraq Festival Hurdle, the Ryanair Hurdle (2013 to 2018), the Matheson Hurdle (2019 to 2023) and the Neville Hotels Hurdle (2024). Identified as Leopardstown's pattern-race two-mile hurdle at the Christmas meeting. Source: RaceWatch results database.
Winner SP (decimal) by Year
December Hurdle trends since 1990
| Official rating | Under 140 | 0 | 26 | 1998 to 2025 | |
| Official rating | 140 to 149 | 3 | 32 | 1998 to 2025 | |
| Official rating | 150 to 159 | 7 | 49 | 1998 to 2025 | |
| Official rating | 160 to 169 | 13 | 38 | 1998 to 2025 | |
| Official rating | 170 and over | 4 | 6 | 1998 to 2025 | |
| Official rating | No rating | 0 | 2 | 1998 to 2025 | |
| Position last time out (GB/IRE run) | Won | 19 | 57 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Position last time out (GB/IRE run) | 2nd or 3rd | 10 | 74 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Position last time out (GB/IRE run) | 4th or worse | 4 | 64 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Position last time out (GB/IRE run) | Did not finish | 2 | 9 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Position last time out (GB/IRE run) | No previous GB/IRE run | 0 | 1 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Days since last GB/IRE run | 30 days or fewer | 15 | 79 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Days since last GB/IRE run | 31 to 60 days | 17 | 85 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Days since last GB/IRE run | 61 to 120 days | 0 | 13 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Days since last GB/IRE run | 121 to 240 days | 1 | 5 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Days since last GB/IRE run | Over 240 days | 2 | 22 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Days since last GB/IRE run | No previous GB/IRE run | 0 | 1 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Level of last run (GB/IRE run) | Grade 1 | 22 | 89 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Level of last run (GB/IRE run) | Grade 2 or 3 | 1 | 34 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Level of last run (GB/IRE run) | Listed | 3 | 7 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Level of last run (GB/IRE run) | Handicap | 2 | 31 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Level of last run (GB/IRE run) | Other race | 7 | 43 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Course of last run (GB/IRE run) | Punchestown | 13 | 63 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Course of last run (GB/IRE run) | Fairyhouse | 9 | 40 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Course of last run (GB/IRE run) | Newcastle | 3 | 11 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Course of last run (GB/IRE run) | Navan | 2 | 22 | 1991 to 2025 | |
| Course of last run (GB/IRE run) | Any other course | 8 | 68 | 1991 to 2025 |
Official rating is the rating the horse ran off in this race, counted only in runnings where at least 80% of runners had a rating (1998 onward). Weight bands appear for handicaps only. Last run and days since use the previous run in Britain or Ireland only (runs abroad are not in our results database), from 1991. Win % shown where a group has 100 or more runners. Source: RaceWatch results database.
Favourites by Result
Latest running: full result (29 December 2025)
| 1 | 4/6F | won | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend | 159 | 6 | 11-5 | |
| 2 | 5/2 | 1 | Gordon Elliott | Jack Kennedy | 159 | 6 | 11-5 | |
| 3 | 16/1 | 6½ | Gordon Elliott | Jordan Gainford | 148 | 5 | 11-12 | |
| 4 | 6/1 | 6¾ | Willie Mullins | Mr P W Mullins | 157 | 5 | 11-12 | |
| 5 | 28/1 | 17¾ | Gavin Cromwell | Keith Donoghue | 148 | 4 | 11-12 | |
| 6 | 28/1 | 25¾ | Willie Mullins | Mark Walsh | 156 | 7 | 11-12 | |
| 7 | 80/1 | dist | Willie Mullins | Brian Hayes | 144 | 11 | 11-12 | |
| 8 | 300/1 | dist | Hugh Paul Finegan | Eoghan Finegan | 98 | 9 | 11-12 |
All runners in the latest running we hold. Source: RaceWatch results database.
Trainers with most December Hurdle wins since 1990
| Willie Mullins | 12 | 45 | 2,025 | |
| Aidan O'Brien | 5 | 11 | 2,001 | |
| C A Murphy | 2 | 4 | 2,006 | |
| P Mullins | 2 | 4 | 1,994 | |
| D K Weld | 2 | 7 | 2,011 | |
| Mrs John Harrington | 2 | 10 | 2,004 | |
| Gordon Elliott | 2 | 19 | 2,024 | |
| M Halford | 1 | 1 | 2,003 | |
| Anthony Mullins | 1 | 2 | 1,995 | |
| C Byrnes | 1 | 2 | 2,009 | |
| John E Kiely | 1 | 2 | 2,002 | |
| Robert Alan Hennessy | 1 | 2 | 2,008 | |
| V Bowens | 1 | 2 | 1,991 | |
| John Queally | 1 | 4 | 2,007 | |
| Henry de Bromhead | 1 | 6 | 2,016 | |
| Noel Meade | 1 | 11 | 1,992 |
Trainers with at least one win, runners counted in this race only.
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Jockeys with most December Hurdle wins since 1990
| Charlie Swan | 6 | 10 | 2,001 | |
| R Walsh | 5 | 12 | 2,015 | |
| Paul Townend | 5 | 14 | 2,025 | |
| Mr P W Mullins | 4 | 6 | 2,021 | |
| Barry Geraghty | 3 | 11 | 2,004 | |
| Davy Russell | 2 | 11 | 2,017 | |
| A Mullins | 1 | 1 | 1,990 | |
| Adrian Lane | 1 | 1 | 2,003 | |
| Brendan Sheridan | 1 | 1 | 1,993 | |
| C N Bowens | 1 | 1 | 1,991 | |
| Mark Dwyer | 1 | 1 | 1,995 | |
| Sam Ewing | 1 | 1 | 2,024 | |
| Timmy Murphy | 1 | 1 | 2,007 | |
| P A Carberry | 1 | 2 | 2,008 | |
| A P McCoy | 1 | 3 | 2,005 | |
| B J Cooper | 1 | 5 | 2,016 | |
| Tommy Treacy | 1 | 5 | 1,994 |
Jockeys with at least one win, rides counted in this race only.
Winners by age
| 4 | 5 | 44 | |
| 5 | 9 | 40 | |
| 6 | 8 | 51 | |
| 7 | 6 | 33 | |
| 8 | 5 | 19 | |
| 9 | 2 | 11 | |
| 10 | 1 | 7 | |
| 11 | 0 | 3 | |
| 12 | 0 | 1 |
Win % shown only where an age group has 100 or more runners.
Winners by starting price band
| Evens or shorter | 14 | 24 | |
| 11/10 to 3/1 | 9 | 33 | |
| 10/3 to 6/1 | 8 | 39 | |
| 13/2 to 12/1 | 3 | 42 | |
| 14/1 to 25/1 | 1 | 37 | |
| 28/1 or bigger | 1 | 34 |
Win % shown only where a band has 100 or more runners.
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Favourites year by year
| 2025 | 4/6F | 1 | Willie Mullins | |
| 2024 | 4/9F | 3 | Willie Mullins | |
| 2023 | 4/7F | 1 | Willie Mullins | |
| 2022 | 4/6F | 1 | Willie Mullins | |
| 2021 | 5/6F | 1 | Willie Mullins | |
| 2020 | 13/8F | 4 | Willie Mullins | |
| 2019 | 10/11F | 5 | Willie Mullins | |
| 2018 | 6/4F | 5 | Gordon Elliott | |
| 2017 | 2/11F | PU | Willie Mullins | |
| 2016 | 2/5F | 2 | Willie Mullins | |
| 2015 | 2/5F | 1 | Willie Mullins | |
| 2014 | 5/6F | 1 | Willie Mullins | |
| 2013 | 11/10F | 1 | Willie Mullins | |
| 2012 | 1/5F | 1 | Willie Mullins | |
| 2011 | EvensF | 2 | Willie Mullins | |
| 2010 | 8/11F | 1 | Willie Mullins | |
| 2009 | 8/11F | 1 | C Byrnes | |
| 2008 | 15/8F | 5 | Henry de Bromhead | |
| 2007 | 15/8F | 3 | Noel Meade | |
| 2006 | 4/6F | 2 | Noel Meade | |
| 2005 | 9/10F | 2 | Noel Meade | |
| 2004 | 6/4F | 3 | D T Hughes | |
| 2003 | 11/10F | 6 | Jonjo O'Neill | |
| 2002 | Liss A Paoraigh (IRE) | 11/10F | 1 | John E Kiely |
| 2001 | Istabraq (IRE) | 4/11F | 1 | Aidan O'Brien |
| 2000 | Istabraq (IRE) | 1/4F | F | Aidan O'Brien |
| 1999 | Istabraq (IRE) | 1/8F | 1 | Aidan O'Brien |
| 1998 | Istabraq (IRE) | 1/10F | 1 | Aidan O'Brien |
| 1997 | Istabraq (IRE) | 1/6F | 1 | Aidan O'Brien |
| 1996 | Cockney Lad (IRE) | 6/4F | 3 | Noel Meade |
| 1995 | Hotel Minella (GB) | EvensF | 9 | Aidan O'Brien |
| 1994 | Boro Eight (GB) | 11/10F | 1 | P Mullins |
| 1993 | Fortune And Fame (GB) | 2/1F | 1 | D K Weld |
| 1992 | Royal Gait (GB) | 11/10F | 4 | James Fanshawe |
| 1991 | Destriero (GB) | 4/5F | F | Noel Furlong |
| 1990 | Grabel (GB) | 2/7F | 1 | P Mullins |
Favourite = shortest starting price joint favourites each listed. Favourites record: 18 wins from 36 runnings
Follow the next December Hurdle field
Members see the declared runners on the RaceWatch racecard with RWS scores, market moves across 20+ bookmakers and FormLines+, and can follow any horse in Tracker+ with Telegram alerts.
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What is the December Hurdle and when is it run?
The December Hurdle is Leopardstown's two-mile Grade 1 hurdle at the Christmas festival, run under many sponsors' titles including the Ryanair Hurdle and the Matheson Hurdle.
Who has won the December Hurdle most often?
Sharjah, Hurricane Fly and Istabraq have each won the December Hurdle four times in the data since 1990.
What do the December Hurdle trends show?
17 of the 35 December Hurdle winners since 1991 had last run in Britain or Ireland 31 to 60 days earlier, the most common gap, and 29 of the 35 had finished in the first three on their previous run. The trends table also splits runners by official rating, level and course of the last run, with winners, runners and win % for each group.
How do favourites and outsiders fare in the December Hurdle?
Favourites have won 18 of 36 runnings since 1990, and the biggest-priced winner in the data is Golden Cross (IRE) at 66/1.
When is the next December Hurdle?
The next December Hurdle is due at Leopardstown's Christmas festival, and the page adds the result, the favourite's run and the updated trends the day after.
Questions people ask
Who won the latest December Hurdle?
Lossiemouth (FR) won the December Hurdle on 29 December 2025 at Leopardstown (IRE), starting at 4/6F in a field of 8. The winner was trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, and the full result is in the latest running table.
How often does the favourite win the December Hurdle?
Favourites have won 18 of 36 runnings in the data since 1990, a strike rate of 50%. A £1 level stake on every favourite at SP shows -6.0 points, and joint favourites are each listed in the favourites table.
Which trainer has the best record in the December Hurdle?
Willie Mullins heads the trainers' table with 12 December Hurdle wins since 1990.
Who has won the December Hurdle the most times?
Sharjah, Hurricane Fly and Istabraq have each won the December Hurdle four times in the data since 1990. Horses to win the December Hurdle more than once since 1990 include Sharjah (2018 to 2021), Hurricane Fly (2010 and 2012 to 2014) and Istabraq (1997 to 1999 and 2001).
Was the December Hurdle once called the Ryanair Hurdle?
Yes, it ran as the Ryanair Hurdle from 2013 to 2018, after spells as the Bookmakers Hurdle and the Istabraq Festival Hurdle. It was then the Matheson Hurdle from 2019 to 2023 and the Neville Hotels Hurdle in 2024.
When is the next December Hurdle?
The next December Hurdle is due at Leopardstown's Christmas festival, and the countdown at the top of this page shows the expected date. The roll of honour, trends and favourites tables update the day after the race is run.
More free data
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Updated