Leopardstown festival is a huge part of the Irish sporting calendar and this year it hasn't disappointed.
150/1 outsider Jeannot Lapin came from out of nowhere to win the beginner's chase for trainer Gearoid O'Loughlin under Ricky Doyle. It was the first start for the 5-year old under rules after being bought by owner Dominic Jones over the summer.
It beat out 15/2 What's Up Darling by two and a half lengths with another outsider, 50/1 No Flies On Him claiming third.
150/1 winner! 😮
Jeannot Lapin provides a shock at huge odds for Gearoid O'Loughlin and Ricky Doyle 💥@paddypower | @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/mv4IpM0hWD
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2024
The favourite heading into the race at 11/8 was It's For Me was unfortunately fatally injured after falling at the second hurdle.
Speaking to Racing TV after Jeannot Lapin's win, trainer Gearoid O'Loughlin told how they came upon the massive horse and how he was quietly confident heading into its big Leopardstown win.
It's all about the owner to be honest, he asked me to buy him a horse during the summer. So we were in Doncaster buying stores and I spotted him and he's such a big horse and he's from the family of Epatante [former Champion Hurdle winner] I said "surely he doesn't stay 3 miles."
I didn't think he would win a beginner's race at Leopardstown then, but as we got closer up to the last 2 months I felt he was entitled to be here anyways.
Obviously his price didn't reflect it, we all had a few quid on him there.
He won the team money indeed, as Declan O'Donoghue later tweeted that owner Dominic Jones won back the £3,000 he spent to buy the horse and then some with just a €20 bet while Jeannot Lapin was 600/1.
Owner of 150/1 @LeopardstownRC winner Jeannot Lappin had twenty quid on at 600/1! - and the horse only cost three grand!
— Declan O'Donoghue (@dodonoghue_race) December 27, 2024
It's also not the first time owner Dominic Jones has won as a huge outsider as back in 2022 at Punchestown his horse Sawbuck won at 300/1, the longest priced winner in the history of jump racing.
Following his win at Leopardstown, Jeannot Lapin was introduced at 66/1 for the My Pension Expert Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, surely it can't be another big winner for Dominic Jones.
