Leopardstown on Friday with Matt Hulmes - (2025)

It’s been a feast of festive racing action, but all eyes will be on Ireland on Friday afternoon with a brace of Grade 1 races to look forward too.

1.50 Leopardstown

The stayers’ hurdle division is rather murky at present, but it could become clearer after the three-mile Christmas Hurdle.

Apple’s Jade is odds-on to retain her crown after outbattling Supasundae last year, and the market suggests Faugheen, who was beaten over two miles on seasonal debut, is the only credible danger.

Gordon Elliott’s mare was allowed plenty of rope by the protagonists when landing another Hatton’s Grace Hurdle four weeks ago, and if afforded similar yardage, she will take the world of beating as the odds suggest. However, I’m not convinced she is at her best over this trip, even allowing the fact she stayed it well last Christmas and it’s worth having a look at the bigger prices.

Faugheen is 3/3 over this trip, including a point-to-point, and was imperious at the Punchestown Festival when routing his field by 13 lengths. He must be a threat if, and it’s a big IF, in similar form now he rises eleven years old.

The one with potential to improve however is the favourite’s stable companion CRACKING SMART. Never been out the first two under rules and won easily on his only start over the trip, he hasn’t been seen since chasing home Next Destination in a Grade 1 novice at Naas in January. If he is ready to roll on reappearance, he will outrun his current 12/1 odds.

3.00 Leopardstown

The highlight of the Leopardstown Christmas week is the Savills Chase and although Presenting Percy has not been declared, twelve of the top staying chasers in the country will take each other on.

Gigginstown colours have been carried to victory in the previous four renewals, including with last year’s reappearing victor ROAD TO RESPECT, who is taken to go back-to-back. He won well twelve months ago, leading home a Gigginstown 1-2-3 and it could be more of the same. Road to Respect followed that with a solid fourth place finish in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham and may have been feeling those effects when beaten at Punchestwon by Bellshill.

Still only seven, he made a winning seasonal reappearance at Down Royal when routing the opposition to win by sixteen lengths in a canter and although only 15/8 in a strong field, he is clearly the most likely winner.

The famous purple and white silks will be carried by four other contenders and I expect Shattered Love to chase home the selection. She may have been feeling the effects of some hard races when well held at Punchestown back in April after winning the JLT Novice Chase at Cheltenham then running second at Fairyhouse at Easter. She returned to run a close second to a match-fit rival, then was outpaced by Min three weeks ago in the John Durkan. She will appreciate the step back up to three miles, a trip she excelled at when winning the staying novice chase at last season’s Christmas festival.

Bellshill will be a threat to all if repeating his Punchestown Gold Cup win, but he was lightly raced going in to that, taking on rivals who had some hard races at the other spring festivals, and may have been slightly flattered.