It’s day two of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival on Friday 27th December and there are set to be some superstars of the sport step up on the hallowed turf over the next few days. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers takes a look at Friday’s card and picks out his best bets for the day.
1.10pm Leopardstown – Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase
Last year’s Arkle hero Gaelic Warrior will make his hotly anticipated return to the racecourse in the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase and he’s likely to prove popular with the punters. The real class act in the race, the Willie Mullins-trained raider will need to perform to a high level to land victory in this contest, and on his comeback run he could be worth taking on with a race-fit rival. Reigning Champion Chase hero Captain Guinness has struggled this season, so take a chance on Gordon Elliott’s FOUND A FIFTY, who won at Down Royal in Grade 2 company at the start of last month, while he built on that effort when edging out Solness in the Grade 2 Fortria Chase. Stepping back up to Grade 1 company here he will need to improve on those runs, but he’s shown he’s firing on all cylinders and could get the best of a rusty Gaelic Warrior.
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1:45pm Leopardstown – Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle
Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins lock horns with five of the seven runners in the second Grade 1 of the day, but it’s the former that can prevail with ROMEO COOLIO, who can return to winning ways here. An impressive winner on hurdling debut at Down Royal, the Champion Bumper runner-up was beaten in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle last time out, however, he’s worth another go here. He’s still lightly-raced with only five runs on his CV, so he’s sure to improve as the season progresses and if Sam Ewing can get him into a rhythm over his obstacles then he can get the better of stablemate Bleu De Vassy.
Christmas Racing Best Bets – Three Top Tips to Warm the Festive Period
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…
Thu 19 Dec 20243.00pm Leopardstown – Paddy Power Chase
One of the toughest betting heats across the UK & Ireland over the Christmas period is the Paddy Power Chase at 3.00pm and the 2024 renewal looks a real head-scratcher for punters. Meetingofthewaters won the race last season and is looking to retain his crown, but it’s his stablemate NICK ROCKETT that can land the prize for the Willie Mullins this time around. Last seen finishing third in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown back in April off 147, the Closutton inmate takes his chance off 150 here and he looks every bit a potential Grand National contender next spring. He was previously seventh in the Irish Grand National when well fancied and staying trips are certainly his forte and he could just prove to be a class above his rivals here. Off top weight he will need a career best, but he’s shown a high level of form on the track to date and he can star here.
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