The festive season brings with it so much top quality racing action between Christmas Day and the new year. GG looks forward to all of the big contests with three ante-post top tips.
1.45pm Leopardstown (27th Dec) – Future Champions Novice Hurdle – Karniquet 8/1
Salvator Mundi has grabbed numerous headlines early this season despite not having races for seven months. His 62-length victory at Tipperary was some spectacle, but it is impossible to suggest he achieved much.
Stablemate KARNIQUET almost certainly ran in a deeper race at Tramore when scoring by 11 lengths of his own more recently. The runner-up had been beaten just a head on his debut, but was firmly put in his place by this son of Kapgarde.
Mullins may choose to split a few of his novice hurdlers throughout the Graded opportunities at this time of year, but Salvator Munid aside, the selection has looked as ready for a step up to Grade 1 company as any of the early Closutton starters.
2.50pm Chepstow (27th Dec) – Welsh Grand National – Galia Des Liteaux 12/1
She may have been slightly disappointing when seventh in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, but GALIA DES LITEAUX may well have had this as her main target anyway, and her performance that day may only have served to have her spot on for Chepstow.
The eight-year-old is now back to the same mark as when runner-up in the Classic Chase at Warwick in which she was beaten less than a length and was 12 lengths clear of the third. In between, she ran a cracking race in the Grand National off 4lb higher too, further suggesting any significant stamina test will suit her best.
She will almost certainly get that at Chepstow, as well as softer ground, so she is worth giving another chance to.
3.00pm Leopardstown (27th Dec) – Paddy Power Handicap Chase – Lucid Dreams 33/1
This is always a tremendous contest to watch at Leopardstown, but with the exception of Three Card Brag, who could be very well-treated, a number of this year’s prospective participants look weighted to the hilt. Even Three Card Brag is yet to win over fences and made a less than encouraging return over hurdles.
As a result, consistency could be key to finding a decent each-way chance and LUCID DREAMS may be going under the radar. John Patrick Ryan’s charge only made his chase debut in September 2023, but has run 18 times over fences already, with his best effort coming in the Troytown at Navan in November when a gallant runner-up.
He was also third in the Kerry National when Flooring Porter gave the field the slip, but that is two placed efforts from as many starts in big 3m handicap chases for him. This is beginning to prove his ideal distance, so while he himself is on a high enough mark, he could well sneak into the frame again at a big price.
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