Day Three Leopardstown Christmas Festival Preview

A formidable combination in the opener, Rich Ricci and Willie Mullins team up with the red-hot Paul Townend to take the ride on board newcomer Horantzau D’airy.

The son of Legoals has been subject to just one career run, a winner of a flat race at Fontainebleau for Hugo Merienne, winning a AQPS race on the turf by just under a length, beating a horse in behind who has since won a Listed contest at Auteuil in May of this year.

He has a decent pedigree being a half brother to the useful Enzo D’airy (trained by Venetia Williams) and is expected to take to hurdles at the first time of asking for powerful connections.

Another big fielded wide open affair, a tentative vote of confidence is for The Dasher Conway trained by Gillian Callaghan.

The son of Ask has only had four career starts to date, all of which have been over obstacles, recording one win.

It was a big field win on heavy conditions at Tipperary in May this year, winning by an easy 11 length margin after jumping well and flying into the lead to win eased down coming to the line, appearing well suited to the testing conditions.

That was his last run of the season and was quite an impressive display on conditions that he clearly thrives on; he'll be sure to relish the softer conditions once more here.

His first start of this season was a real eye catching one, having his first run in 8 months he was quite keen throughout the early stages of the race and looked well in contention coming to the last however ultimately appeared in need of the run as a lack of race fitness got the better of him in the latter stages.

It was an impressive performance considering his keenness throughout the early stages of the race on the back of a lengthy layoff, he will be much sharper for that run and is known to enjoy a big fielded affair.

Ardhill was subject to a huge gamble last time out at Ascot and duly delivered upon that market promise when cruising into contention and going clear by an eventual 7.5length margin at the finish.

It was most impressive from Gordon Elliott's 6yo gelding, hitting an RPR of 127 and making a mockery of his mark of 104 whilst returning from a 4 month break.

He's entitled to improve plenty from that performance second run back, still appears well in off a mark of 111 and should once more give his running for his in-form stable.

The first Grade 1 of the card is the Dornan Engineering Christmas Hurdle over 3 miles, and it looks a decently competitive field this year with last season’s stayer’s hurdler winner The Flooring Porter in there with Supreme Novice Hurdle winner Klassical Dream.

A vote of confidence goes towards the latter, current favourite, Klassical Dream, who has been very lightly raced since his Supreme Novices romp back in 2019.

The Willie Mullins team have always touted him to improve vastly for a step up in trip and he delivered upon that promise when winning the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown in April, beating some thorough stayers by 9 lengths and producing arguably a career best performance.

At 7-years-old he remains open to further improvement at the trip, is a solid jumper who stays well and appears versatile upon differing grounds.

The race will mark a good indication for the Stayers Hurdle come March at the Cheltenham festival.

As seen with Tornado Flyer in the King George, a Willie Mullins outsider cannot be overlooked in these big graded races despite the array of talent showcased at the top of the market.

Burning Victory showed a high level of form when going clear with the now 155 rated Buzz in the Ceasarewitch Handicap at Newmarket in October and was subsequently well fancied on her return to action at Navan at the start of the month.

She was backed into strong favouritism for her Grade B affair for the switch back to hurdles however flopped massively on her return to action, swallowed up in a large field.

She needs to bounce back massively here, upped in grade and once more tried over the 3 mile trip, however is afforded another chance here with Rachael Blackmore booked on board.

She may of just needed a run back over hurdles to get back into the swing of things as some horses do after racing on the flat; if able to replicate her form behind Buzz back over obstacles, she may just spring a surprise at a big price here.

The second Grade 1 of the day and the feature race is the Savills Chase, won by the likes of Denman, Bobs Worth and A Plus Tard last season who looks to replicate that success a year on.

He won the race last season with the likes of Kemboy and Tornado Flyer (this year’s King George winner) in behind, so the form is very solid and does have some substance.

Although the impressive Galvin is in the race this season, this affair doesn’t look like it has as much depth as previous renewals meaning A Plus Tard will take all the beating once more.

His Betfair Chase win last time out was arguably his best career performance to date; there was a few question marks on him going into the race, whether he'd be suited to Haydock and winning first time out, but he certainly put those doubts to bed, winning by 22 lengths eased down.

One of the most exciting horses in training, the Willie Mullins trained Galopin Des Champs looks set to make a winning start to life over fences at Leopardstown.

A winner of the Martin Pipe at the festival last March, the son of Timos landed the Grade 1 Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle in taking fashion when last seen, beating some nice prospects by an ever-growing 12 length margin.

He was always bought with the intention of being a chaser and given his pedigree he is expected to take well to the larger obstacles and strike for the in form Mullins yard.

A typically competitive bumper to round off the days actions, Redemption Day looks to hold the strongest claims for landing the lucky last.

A brother to hurdle winner Big Bresil, his unraced dam is a half sister to Champion Bumper winner Cheltenian.

His pedigree is smart and he appears the type sure to be well suited to the demands on National Hunt Flat Racing on his first career start.

Patrick Mullins takes the ride and Redemption Day needs to be taken very seriously for top connections.