Boxing Day at Down Royal Racecourse is one of those fixtures that encapsulates everything good about Irish National Hunt racing during the festive season.
Nestled just outside the bustling city of Lisburn, the right-handed track is predominantly a jumps venue these days, hosting hurdles and chases around its two-mile square circuit.
The track demands a mix of stamina and jumping fluency from entries, particularly when the ground turns testing, as it often does at this time of year. However, this time, yielding (Hurdle) and good to yielding conditions are expected.
The 2025 Boxing Day Races (on 26th December) promises to be another cracking day out, blending high-class racing with a distinct holiday flavour, where families, casual fans and punters can wrap up for some excitement trackside.
Although Down Royal is perhaps more famous for its big autumn festival, complete with Grade 1 chases, the Boxing Day card is more about entertainment.
It’s also a time when future stars can be identified, with handicaps full of plot horses and a hunter’s chase that always draws enthusiastic support from those in attendance.
A trip to Down Royal is the perfect way to shake off those Christmas overindulgences, with the gates opening at 10:30am and the first race pencilled in a little over an hour later.
Tonybet will have blanket coverage of the event with extensive horse racing markets, competitive prices and each-way offers. Let’s take a closer look at what’s in store in 2025.
Race breakdown – 26th December
The Boxing Day card features seven races in total, all over jumps or on the flat in the bumper finale, with a proper emphasis on uncovering young talent to go along with the usual gritty handicaps.
Declarations show big fields in the maidens, which is standard for this time of year, as trainers like to get runs into promising novices’ legs before the spring festivals are on the horizon.
Here’s a race-by-race breakdown.
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle
The day’s opening salvo at 11:40 is the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle over 2m 4f, a race that often chucks up horses capable of progressing to bigger and better things.
There is a massive entry list for this one that’s waiting to be whittled down, but look out for Willie Mullins’ Arslan and You Proof, who will both arrive with decent bumper form.
Gordon Elliott’s battalion meanwhile, includes Spinningayarn (who has placed in points and bumpers), point winner Theflyking and Unflinching.
Rival Henry de Bromhead adds Miss Doyenne and Rusty Harkness into the mix, making this one an open heat where market moves will inform closer to the off.
Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle
Next up, just after noon at 12:15 is the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle over a slightly shorter distance of 2m 1f.
This auction series race has attracted solid types such as Henry de Bromhead’s Los Blanco, who has shown promise in previous outings, while Gavin Cromwell’s Champagne Jury has attracted interest in the ante-post markets.
Elliott and others have multiple entries this year, but savvier bettors should look to runners with recent point-to-point form. There is likely to be plenty of value on offer down the field for this one.
Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle
The 12:48 Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (rated 0-100) over 2m 1f follows, and is a typical low-grade handicap that trainers such as Elliott and Cromwell often like to target with some of their improving sorts.
The big fields here mean that crowded cavalry charges are common, though this makes the event ideal for each-way bets on horses dropping in class or returning from breaks.
Last year, 15 horses ran and the top prize was claimed by St Denis’s Well (Ian Patrick Donoghue), though a much bigger contingent is expected this year.
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase
At 13:23 comes the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase over 2m 4½f. This always draws plenty of interest as it tends to introduce hurdlers to fences.
Plenty of unexposed chasers will be involved in this proving ground for horses aged four and up. Gavin Cromwell (Glenashling, Crescent Moon) and Gordon Elliott (Clodders Dream, Kish Bank, Slanagaibhgoleir) will be strongly represented again.
BAR 1 Betting Handicap Chase
The 13:58 BAR 1 Betting Handicap Chase (0-100) is contested over the same trip and is another handicap where experience over fences counts big, especially, like this year, on ground that’s likely to be yielding.
The bigger stables are giving this one a miss, which opens the door for the likes of I A Connect (Ian Patrick Donoghue), Finnians Row (DA McLoughlin) and Tell Me This (A Kinirons) to make an impact.
BAR 1 Betting Hunters Chase
The feature showpiece race in many eyes on Boxing Day is the 14:33 BAR 1 Betting Hunters Chase over 3m. This point-to-point-styled contest often sees amateur riders and seasoned hunters battling it out, and it has a knack for delivering thrilling finishes and big-priced winners.
It’s a real crowd-pleaser, with the extended distance testing stamina to the full. 12 months ago, Big Interest (DM Christie) claimed the spoils for connections off a starting price of 6/1. The champ is back to defend his title in 2025.
BAR 1 Betting (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race
The Boxing Day card closes at 15:08 with the BAR 1 Betting (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race over 2m 1f, a bumper where future stars often make their bow. Any well-bred newcomers from Elliott and Mullins’ yards will attract support.
In 2024, Kilwaughter (SRB Crawford) was an unlikely winner of the race at 12/1, and the same trainer returns for another bash at glory with fancied debutant Blue Du Neuf.
Notable Irish-trained and owned horses at Down Royal
Down Royal’s Boxing Day meeting is steeped in Irish connections. It is, after all, the only major racecourse in Northern Ireland. However, the vast majority of runners there tend to hail from south of the border.
The big-name yards have achieved plenty of success there, and this year, Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins, among others, will be saddling multiple runners right across the card.
Elliott, who is based down the road in Cullentra House Stables (County Meath), knows what it takes to win at Down Royal and has an enviable record there. This year’s representatives, such as Spinningayarn, Theflyingking and several in the maidens, will make the jaunt north with serious expectations.
Elliott has a knack for placing horses in these winter events to build confidence ahead of higher-profile tests in the spring.
Mullins, meanwhile, the prolific Closutton powerhouse, rarely treks north unprepared and he should arrive at Down Royal with a strong hand later this month.
Among the possible pickouts are Aslan (a French import with hurdles experience) and You Proof, with both horses having enough potential to produce wins.
Henry de Bromhead, from Knockeen in Waterford, often targets these fixtures in a similar way, with horses such as Miss Doyenne and Los Blanco showing bumper promise that could translate over obstacles if things go smoothly.
Owners with deep Irish roots are everywhere, which is no surprise given the geography. JP McManus, Gigginstown House Stud (Michael O’Leary) and other household names have frequently carried colours here.
It’s a meeting where the cross-border relations are strengthened, but make no mistake: the raiding parties from the Republic provide most of the quality and excitement on show.
Predictions for Down Royal Boxing Day races
Declarations for the Boxing Day card are still fresh, which means that markets are still forming and probably won’t be finalised until two or three days before.
Early betting for the card will be cautious, though the big maiden hurdles should still attract plenty of attention and action.
In the 11:40 EBF Maiden Hurdle, Gordon Elliott’s Spinningayarn stands out on form. His point-to-point second and bumper runs indicate that he’s ready for this step up in trip. Elliott’s strike rate in similar events is difficult to dismiss, and Spinningayarancould shorten considerably if, as expected, he is well supported.
Willie Mullins’ pair in the same race might split opinions, but Arslan has the class to be involved if he settles properly over hurdles. For value, Henry de Bromhead’s Rusty Harkness catches the eye and could outrun big odds if improving on his switch to timber.
As it is every year, the beginners chase looks trickier, though any Cromwell or Elliott newcomer should be respected. In the hunters’ chase, these races often go to experienced campaigners from the point-to-point sphere, so track entries with recent wins between the flags closely.
Handicaps are tougher to call this far out, and market movement will help to inform. However, the opportunity series race could suit a plot horse from a lesser yard, and each-way lines should be ripe for plundering as a result.
Overall, expect the usual Irish dominance, with the major yards sharing the spoils. As always with winter jumping, ground conditions will have a major impact. Yielding and good to yielding has already been forecast, which suits the hardy Irish breeds.
If you’re planning a flutter, it’s worth keeping a close eye on the latest odds movements on Tonybet as non-runners and jockey bookings emerge. With Tonybet, you’re guaranteed competitive prices and regular updates on Irish racing markets.
