The Leopardstown Christmas Festival wraps up on Sunday afternoon with two more first year pupils as they draw the curtain on a whirlwind four days in Dublin.
The highlight of Sunday is the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Hurdle over three miles and there are excellent support races at Leopardstown. We have three fantasies to follow from Ireland.
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Sunday tips
- 12:10 Leopardstown – Argento Boy – P.S.
- 2:30 p.m. Leopardstown – Brighterdaysahead – 11/4
- 3:05 p.m. Leopardstown – Comfort zone – P.S.
12:10 Leopardstown – Argento Boy – P.S.It’s been a mixed week for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend – and there may well be further disappointments in the big races here – but they can start the afternoon on a high note with SILVER BOY in the opening Grant Fit Out Maiden Hurdle over 2m4f. He races in the familiar silks of Galopin Des Champs owner Mrs Audrey Turley and he won a Fairyhouse bumper in January on his Rules bow before becoming shy in Grade 1 company at Cheltenham and Punchestown. He returned for his over hurdles at Punchestown (2m5½f, soft) last month and chased down Henry De Bromhead’s promising Rules newcomer The Big Westerner, who cleared this form by winning a Level 2 novice event in Limerick on Thursday. Argento Boy should be ready to open his account now.2:30 p.m. Leopardstown – Brighterdaysahead – 11/4The one Mullins/Townend are really looking for a big race against is State Man in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Hurdle. After Lossiemouth failed to prove up to the task at Kempton’s Constitution Hill on Boxing Day, the reigning champion hurdler may need revenge. BETTER FUTURES following last month’s Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown. The mare was beaten at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but that remained her only setback in nine starts and she bounced back with a trio of victories that showed her true ability. She had every chance of going down at the last moment when State Man took the lead in the end, but she showed a willing attitude to get back up and can endorse that form by giving Sam Ewing another big race victory over which was a great week for the runner.3:05 p.m. Leopardstown – Comfort zone – P.S.Joseph O’Brien is another man enjoying a stellar Christmas. He dispatched Banbridge to win the King George on Boxing Day and landed a Grade 1 with Solness here 24 hours later. His team is in superb form and COMFORT ZONE goes for the €60,000 payout in the listed Neville Hotels Premier Handicap Hurdle. He is closely associated with So Scottish for Emmet Mullins in the same JP McManus silks and their Galway effort behind gradual winner The Wallpark in August is looking very good now. Comfort Zone gets 1lb from its rival now and it should be tight between them. On his last start the selection won a Naas Handicap over 2m on the flat in October on a score of 86 and the five-year-old is expected to perform well under Simon Torrens as the Piltown trainer looks to round off a few superb days.
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2024-12-28 18:00:00 ,