The Leopardstown Christmas Festival comes to a close on Sunday, 29 December with one final Grade 1 contest of the calendar year in Ireland. That is none other than the December Hurdle, run under the sponsored title of Neville Hotels Hurdle for this edition.
It features a Morgiana Hurdle rematch between State Man and the mare who beat him at Punchestown, Brighterdaysahead. Speaking of females, the chief supporting race on the card is a Grade 3 contest for mares only. Neville Hotels also sponsor a Premier Handicap Hurdle over the same 2m 4f distance that has Listed status.
This completes the big four-day meeting in some style. Enter our experts who look at all the form and prices on horse racing betting sites in search of value. All of these main contest feature in their detailed analysis of what could happen on the Dublin track.
Leopardstown Christmas Festival Day 4 Preview for Sunday, 29 December
1:20 – 2m 4f Grade 3 Mares Hurdle
Last year’s winner Jetara is back for a repeat bid, but trainer Jessica Harrington is in no form this winter at all. Willie Mullins has six successes in recent seasons in this very race, so anything he saddles is worth concentrating on. The improving type is LOT OF JOY, who made all in the Grabel during the Punchestown Premier Weekend last month.
She must prove stamina, but was a narrow course and distance second at this meeting in 2022. The yard also runs re-opposing Risk Belle, who chased home Lot Of Joy last time out and meets the winner on 4lb better terms. Henry De Bromhead also has a good hand for this, but there are going concerns for his pair.
Both Hispanic Moon and July Flower are French imports to Ireland who want really testing ground. At the time of writing, conditions are good to yielding at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and that isn’t really soft enough. Kala Conti for Gordon Elliott concedes weight all-round, meanwhile, for last year’s Juvenile Hurdle win at this meeting.
2:30 – 2m Grade 1 Neville Hotels Hurdle (Registered as the December Hurdle)
That rematch between STATE MAN and Brighterdaysahead. The former may simply have been caught out by a lack of race fitness when they met at Punchestown. Brighterdaysahead already had a run and win under her belt from Down Royal. There is also the issue of the mare’s jumping to consider. It could be sharper.
State Man, meanwhile, boasts an unbeaten record when completing over this course and distance. He has two wins in this race and a couple of Irish Champion Hurdles on his CV. If stripping fitter for his reappearance, then don’t be surprised if State Man turns the tables on Brighterdaysahead.
Mystical Power fluffed his lines and flopped in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, but could also come on for that return to action. He should confirm previous form with King Of Kingsfield, who chased home his owner-stable companion at Down Royal. The others, headed by Winter Fog, are well held on all known form.
3:05 – Listed 2m 4f Neville Hotels Premier Handicap Hurdle (Registered as the Rathdown)
A tricky concluding handicap to the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and no mistake. Royal Bond winner Tounsivator has a 6lb hike for his Fairyhouse heroics and the step up in trip should suit him. There are others lurking lower in the weights, however, and connections of SA FUREUR look to exploit a huge disparity between his hurdling and chase marks.
Elliott and Bective Stud have a seven-year-old with a 152 rating over fences. Sa Fureur looks chucked in off 134 in this sphere, then, judged by that 18lb difference. Two-and-a-half miles looks ideal for him, based on his Foxrock Handicap Chase victory around Navan last time.
JP McManus has five runners in total in this big field handicap. Right down the bottom is Park Of Kings, who might be able to reverse Brown Lad form with The Busy Fool from Naas here. Both have shouts for respective trainers Paul Nolan and Philip Rothwell.
Gigginstown’s Harsh has a light weight too and needs at least this trip. Joseph O’Brien stable companion Comfort Zone ran well in defeat at the Galway Festival and has since scored on the Flat in a stayers’ race, so has a squeak too. Mr Percy is a lightly-raced handicap debutant for the same yard.
Others to note as the Leopardstown Christmas Festival draws to a close are Bottler’secret up in trip for Gavin Cromwell and two last time out winners. The handicapper has taken the Fairyhouse victory of Any Road literally with a 7lb rise and similar comments apply to Barry Connell’s Slane Hill following Navan success.
