It’s nearly Christmas which means the jumps racing ramps up with the Leopardstown Christmas Festival from 26th-29th December!
Throughout the week there’s a plethora of top-class jump action including SEVEN Grade 1 races and plenty more!
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State Man, with Paul Townend up, jumps the last on their way to winningCredit: getty
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One of the highlights of the week sees Captain Guinness go head-to-head with Dinoblue in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase over 2m1f.
Captain Guinness is the strong favourite of that pairing with Dinoblue and Gentelman De Mee not far behind in the betting representing the green and gold colours of JP McManus.
It also wouldn’t be a festival without a 3m hurdle contest featuring some of the best hurdlers in training and this year, Sir Gerhard makes a very interesting addition to the list of potential runners in the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle.
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On the same day Galopin Des Champs looks to recover his form with a win over his preferred distance of 3m in the Savills Chase at a very tempting price of 7/4 if returning to his best.
Fastorslow has beaten him twice now though and represents an 11/4 chance at this early stage, while Gentlemansgame also could throw his hat in the ring.
Leopardstown Festival tips
Racing Post Novice Chase – Facile Vega 1/2
Facile Vega is looking likely to run in this 2m1f Steeplechase for trainer Willie Mullins at a huge odds-on price due to his prominent display on chasing debut last month.
The top-class hurdler, by Walk In The Park, was an incredible hurdler and could be very smart for the top Irish trainer over fences as well by all accounts.
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This particular chase looks comfortable for him to progress though there’s clear promise with his jumping likely to be the best of him and Il Etait Temps, who beat him at Leopardstown in February but wasn’t as strong over fences.
Paddy’s Rewards Club Steeplechase – Dinoblue 5/2
11 fences to be taken in this 2m1f steeplechase with €73,750 up for grabs for the winner.
There won’t be room for mistakes in this one with the likes of Appreciate It, Fil Dor and Saint Roi all in contention at each-way price.
But it’s Dinoblue the six-year-old and only mare in the field that looks nice value and holds plenty of potential this season for trainer Mullins.
She was beaten by Impervious at Cork in December which has worked out well with that horse winning at Cheltenham Festival, and she just wasn’t her usual self when beaten as favourite on her subsequent two starts.
But she showed what she’s capable of since winning three on the bounce and should continue on that upward curve progressing as a prominent chaser, winning four from seven.
Future Champions Novice Hurdle: Daddy Long Legs 7/2
This four-year-old gelding put in a mighty performance on hurdle debut in a maiden at Thurles at the end of November beating the field by 13 lengths rather comfortably.
Willie Mullins trains this promising hurdler and the owner only ever has some of the top horses in training so has to be noted at 7/2.
Down Memory Lane is also an interesting one for Gordon Elliott in the J P McManus colours the five-year-old by Walk In The Park has won all three of his contests to date but may well bump into one or two here.
Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle – Home By The Lee 5/2
Seeing Sir Gerhard potentially back over hurdles is an interesting addition to this Christmas Festival as he would take on 3m for just the third time.
It’s hard to side with him on recent efforts over fences and there’s clearer chances with Home By the Lee.
Irish Point is a similar price but stepping up in trip for the first time which can be tough in such a high grade contest.
Home By The Lee was just under four lengths off the winner Sire Du Berlais in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival in such an entertaining busy finish.
He wasn’t going well next time out when pulled up at Aintree a month later and finished a decent enough third behind Bob Olinger at Navan on seasonal debut.
But three miles is where he can really thrive and is a great price at this stage having won this race nicely last year.
Savills Chase (Grade 1) – Galopin Des Champs 7/4
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Galopin Des Champs was a popular winner as the favourite in the Cheltenham Festival 2023 Gold CupCredit: Getty
Gerri Colombe does make an interesting each-way play in the Savills Chase but it does seem a better option in the way of the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day instead.
As such, Galopin Des Champs has to be sided with, with faith firmly remaining in the seven-year-old.
When he won the Gold Cup at Cheltenham this year it was always a possibility he wouldn’t run as well since as the stats suggest of the winners.
But he’s not been beaten by far, just at huge odds-on prices, but this is where the value returns and horses like Galopin can always bounce back and continue to prove his ability.
Former jockey, Bryan Cooper, was speaking to Boylesports about his the horse’s chances: “I am willing to forgive Galopin for his run at Punchestown, he was a bit rusty and he was only beaten three lengths by potentially one of the best horses in training.
“If he was beat five or six or seven lengths then you might think if something was amiss but Paul [Townend] was very easy on him coming away from the last, he knew he wouldn’t get there, but he is still the one going forward.”
Neville Hotels Novice Chase – Grangeclare West 7/1
At this early stage in the betting on the antepost market, there could be a few changes in the runners.
But Grangeclare West appeals based on his potential going forward having shown good style over hurdles in April and then proving that ability over fences for the first time in early November at Naas.
Not many will be backing him if the likes of Klassical Dream, Corbetts Cross or Flooring Porter remain in the contest and could fly under the radar for a nice each-way profit.
Matheson Hurdle – State Man 2/5
Impaire Et Passe could make a great battle to take on State Man as the odds-on favourite.
He is usually tested over further than a straight 2m so a drop back in trip does look interesting.
His one and only contest over 2m was back in January 2023 and he won comfortably as the 1/3 favourite before continuing his unbeaten record at both the Ballymore at Cheltenham Festival and Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown Festival, in convincing style.
He surprised a few by being beaten by Teahupoo at Fairyhouse earlier in December but it still puts him right up there.
Though State Man has got the consistency and ability to fend off any challenger, provided it’s not Constitution Hill, over hurdles at 2m.
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