Savills Chase Day at Leopardstown: ’I’ve never experienced a crowd like it’ Driving down the M50 to Leopardstown on the 28th of December, plenty of thoughts were running through my head. First of all, the one that struck me straight away was: thank God there’s no traffic yet. Then came the racing questions - was Galopin Des Champs really going to be back to his best? Would Teahupoo even line up in the December Hurdle, and if he did, would the ground be enough to deter him? A warm Christmas welcome I arrived on course and made my way to the press room, where the day really began. The first man I met was Pat Healy, who wished me a happy Christmas - a small moment, but one that summed up the warm buzz around the place. I opened up the laptop, settled in, and just like that, my day had begun. My questions still needed answering Before long, I found Colm White in the betting ring to get a feel for how the first two days of the festival had gone. With a big smile on his face, he was clearly in great form and spoke enthusiastically about how strong things had been. The signs were good, the crowd was building, and the day was now fully up and running. "The goosebumps" Every one of my questions was answered, and emphatically. Chief among them was Galopin Des Champs, who showed in the Savills Chase that he is still retaining every bit of his immense ability. He travelled with real authority, jumped superbly, and confirmed that he remains a huge player heading towards the Dublin Racing Festival and Cheltenham. I’ve been going racing to Leopardstown for many years now, but I can honestly say I’ve never experienced a crowd like it that day. It was unbelievable. When they turned for home in the Savills Chase, the goosebumps were like nothing I’ve ever felt before - the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. The atmosphere was electric. Increase in crowds buoys Christmas spirits Fair play to Leopardstown as well. The 28th of December crowd was fantastic, and the track recorded an increase of over 4,450 people across the four-day festival. From accessibility, to getting through the gates, to moving out to the track, everything felt extremely user-friendly. My three main takes from Leopardstown 1. Facilities and wait times People were noticeably happier regarding wait times for food, drink, and toilets. I’ve complained myself over the last few years, but hats off to Leopardstown, they seem to have addressed these issues. Queues were much smaller, wait times were shorter, and overall it felt far less frustrating. Boxes well and truly ticked here. 2. Seeing the horses up close The ability to see the horses so clearly before the race really stood out. The pre-parade ring and parade ring are excellently placed, and there was a real buzz ahead of every race. Opinions were flying, children were smiling, and the horses paraded proudly with their grooms minding them. These are where the little details punters pick up on when you’re part of a crowd of over 15,000 people, all sharing the same excitement. Once the jockeys legged up, it was game time. Then came the dash back to the stands, people flying to grab a spot and whether you were at the finish line or halfway up the stand, you always knew exactly what was going on. 3. The crowd I have to commend the crowd again. I’ve been lucky enough to witness plenty of big races, but it will be hard to top this year’s Savills Chase for atmosphere. Walking past the bookies, I decided to take out my phone and record the crowd for the final few fences. As I pressed record and kept my eyes on the race, I felt the hairs stand up on the back of my neck as a booming “gowannnn” echoed around Leopardstown. Horses soared over two out, the dash for home began, and it was nip and tuck to the last. The crowd were convinced Galopin Des Champs was about to defy his absence since April and make a triumphant return. But Sam Ewing and his ever willing partner, Affordale Fury put an end to that dream quickly. I Am Maximus, with Derek O’Connor aboard, even came late on the scene, and I’m sure more than a few in attendance got flashbacks to Edwulf all those years ago in the Irish Gold Cup. Oh my God - what a roar. Every emotion was on show: happiness, sadness, ecstasy, and despair, as the 5/4 favourite couldn’t rescue punters who had taken a few knocks earlier in the week. All in all, it was one of the best days I’ve ever had at the races and without question, one of the best crowds I’ve ever seen at Leopardstown.
