VIDEO: Don Poli helps punters recover after surprise in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Before we get the full blast of Storm Frank, it was Storm Elliott and Mullins at Leopardstown this afternoon.

The Meath trainer saddled the winner in the first of two Grade One's this afternoon, the Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle with his mount Prince of Scars. Just five horses made the start and when Snow Falcon was an early faller, it was left to Alpha Des Obeaux to lead the chasers. Heading towards the finish Davy Russell snuck up on the leading pair of Martello Tower and the long term leader, and under the guidance of the Corkman, the Gordon Elliot mount took the win. A four length win at odds of 10/1 was a serious victory for bookies with Arctic Fire in his first trip at this distance, struggling and bringing up the rear. Prince of Scars is now likely to be placed in the running for the World Hurdle at Cheltenham, but Elliott is understood to be keen on a longer term plan for the chaser. https://twitter.com/PhilThompson_OT/status/681475477656199168 The second race of the afternoon proved more worthy for punters as Don Poli grunted his way to a win in a six-horse field in the Grade One Lexus Chase at 4/6f. The three miles really tested the Bryan Cooper mount with On His Own and runner-up First Lieutenant  putting in decent shifts to make for an exciting finish heading towards the last. Davy Russell pushed the winner all the way with the Ted Walsh Foxrock coming home third as Don Poli looks certain to be a key interest for Irish fans in the Gold Cup in just over three months time. https://twitter.com/AtTheRaces/status/681493195503489024?lang=en-gb The win was Mullins' first ever Lexus Chase win too. https://twitter.com/TheIrishField/status/681500390551089152 https://twitter.com/davidjohnsonTF/status/681500596399161344