The Dublin Racing Festival dominates the weekend racing entertainment, with an abundance of top-level action from Leopardstown. Closer to home, Scottish Cheltenham Trials Day takes place at Musselburgh, while Saturday’s only domestic Grade 1 serves as the centrepiece of an excellent card at Sandown.
First run in 1964, the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase takes its name, not from the picturesque archipelago off the south coast, but rather the less attractive double roundabout system in the Sandown locale. Strange naming origins aside, this 2m4f affair has a habit of falling to a smart performer. Three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate is joined on the roll of honour by fellow Cheltenham Festival winners, Defi Du Seuil and L’Homme Presse, and the popular Oscar Whisky.
Traditionally, this has been a strong race for the home team, with 24 of the 26 editions in the falling to a British trainer. However, there is a fair chance the Irish may emerge victorious in 2026. When glancing at the head of the market in this four-runner affair, you could be forgiven for thinking the Sandown highlight was part of the Dublin Racing Festival offering. Set to go head-to-head in several events at Leopardstown, Messrs Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are responsible for the first and second favourites in this £100,000 contest.
Kitzbuhel to Back Up Kauto Star Success?
Willie Mullins’ only previous Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase win came when saddling Gitane Du Berlais to victory in 2015. The market suggests he may double his tally in 2026 with the Mrs J Donnelly-owned Kitzbuhel.
Joining the yard from France ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, this Cokoriko gelding won his first two outings over hurdles but came up short in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle and Grade 2 Select Hurdle at this track.
With two starts into his chase career, he is already a Grade 1 winner. Having broken his duck over fences at Punchestown in November, the six-year-old proved a class apart in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. That came over three miles, but he didn’t look short of speed that day, so the drop in trip may not be an issue. Heading here rather than butting heads with stablemate Final Demand at Leopardstown, he could be hard to beat.
Kala Conti to Beat the Boys
As of 2025, the aforementioned Gitane Du Berlais is the only mare to come home in front in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase. If judged purely on ratings, the Gordon Elliott-trained Kala Conti has an excellent chance of adding her name to that exclusive list in 2026.
A rating of 149 places Kala Conti seven pounds clear of Miami Magic, level with Sixmilebridge, and 4lb behind Kitzbuhel. However, she received seven pounds from each of those rivals courtesy of her mare’s allowance.
| Horse | Official Rating | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Kitzbuhel | 153 | 11st 7lbs |
| Kala Conti | 149 | 11st 0lbs |
| Sixmilebridge | 149 | 11st 7lbs |
| Miami Magic | 142 | 11st 7lbs |
Like Kitzbuhel, Kala Conti displayed talent over hurdles, with the pick of her efforts seeing her master the talented mare Kargese in a 2023 juvenile Grade 2 at Leopardstown. Given that promise, she was a little disappointing last season but has been revitalised over fences. Two from two over the larger obstacles, she arrives on the back of a 16-length win in a Grade 2 mares’ event at Cork. Sporting the same Robcour silks carried to victory by Gerri Colombe in the 2023 edition, she may go close to handing Elliott a second Scilly Isles success.
Sixmilebridge to Strike for O’Brien?
Adding to the Irish flavour, the most credible challenger trained in Britain hails from the Gloucester operation of Irishman Fergal O’Brien. Joining O’Brien from Ben Pauling in October 2024, Sixmilebridge came home in front in three of five outings over hurdles, albeit losing his headline Grade 2 success as a result of a banned substance in his sample. His progress over hurdles ground to a halt in the Turners Novices’ Chase, but he looks set to reward the decision to switch to fences.
Opening up with a comfortable success at Ayr, his class was enough to overcome a distinctly average round of jumping. Last time out at Cheltenham, he was much better. Barely putting a foot wrong at his obstacles, he made all the running for an impressive 13-length success.
Things we love to see #TeamFOB
— Fergal O’Brien Racing (@FOBRacing) December 12, 2025
His trainer mentioned this race as a likely target in the aftermath of that contest, and he looks well worth his place in the lineup.
Edmunds to Break Grade 1 Duck?
The Stuart Edmunds-trained Miami Magic rounds out the quartet. This son of St Leger winner Leading Light made a flying start to his hurdling career, with back-to-back wins at Kempton and Fakenham in 2024, prompting Edmunds to suggest he may be the best horse he has ever trained. In six starts since, he hasn’t quite delivered on his potential. While running well to finish second in the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle, he was well below that level when sent off as favourite for the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle on his final start of the 2024/25 season.
Switched to chasing for the current campaign, Miami Magic struggled mightily at Uttoxeter and Kempton, suggesting fences may not be for him. However, he bounced right back to form last time out in a Class 2 contest at Cheltenham, when comfortably dispatching a field including the highly regarded Regent’s Stroll. This demands more, but he is no forlorn hope as he seeks to hand his trainer a first Grade 1 victory.
Ellenborough Park Hotel ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase 2026 Result
| Pos. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami Magic | Stuart Edmunds | Charlie Hammond | 13/2 |
| 2 | Regent’s Stroll | Paul Nicholls | Harry Cobden | 6/4F |
| 3 | Califet En Vol | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville | 11/4 |
| 4 | Knight Of Allen | Jane Williams | Ciaran Gethings | 10/1 |
| 5 | Eagle Fang | William Durkan | Philip Byrnes | 4/1 |