Leopardstown full race card and betting tips for the fourth day of the Christmas Festival
The Leopardstown Christmas Festival comes to an end on Sunday after a bumper week of racing.
Trust State Man to register his eleventh Grade 1 success and reverse ‘Morgiana’ form with Brighterdaysahead in the Neville Hotels Hurdle in Leopardstown tomorrow. The reigning champion had his unbeaten run ended by Gordon Elliott’s mare at Punchestown when, on his seasonal debut, he had edged ahead when ‘missing’ the final flight and going down by three-quarters of a length.
They meet on identical terms here. But I expect the Willie Mullins-trained hurdling star to take a significant step forward, in terms of fitness, against the mare, who had won a Grade 3 event at Down Royal as a ‘prep’ for the ‘Morgiana’.
Of course, State Man’s impressive winning run had stretched back to his County Hurdle success in 2022, interrupted only by Constitution Hill in the ‘Champion’ in 2023. Last March, the Closutton gelding made amends in the ‘Champion’, outpointing Irish Point, who he beat again at Punchestown. State Man is rated 14lb. superior to Brighterdaysahead, a dual Grade 1 winner, and, on ‘Morgiana’ form, there should be little between them. But a fitter State Man, back on a more suitable track, is a confident choice to return to winning ways in a field which also includes stable-companion Mystical Power, successful at Grade 1 level in Aintree and Punchestown last spring but hugely disappointing on his return in the ‘Fighting Fifth’ at Newcastle.
Seeking a hat-trick, the Mullins-trained Lot Of Joy, successful at Gowran Park and Punchestown in recent weeks, has solid claims in the Grade 3 Beat The Bank.ie Mares Hurdle. It looks a competitive affair, with the penalised Kala Conti topping the weights. Jetara bidding for back-to-backs wins in the race and Liam Kenny’s progressive mare World Of Fortune deserving respect.
And, if he settles and improves him jumping, Argento Boy should get punters off to flayer in the Grant Fit Out Maiden Hurdle.
Here's a full list of the runners and riders, as well as tip for each race at Leopardstown on the fourth day of their Christmas Festival.
12.10 The Grant Fit Out Maiden Hurdle
1 Argento Boy (IRE) Paul Townend
2 Bossofthebrownies (IRE) Darragh O'Keeffe
3 Harbour Highway (IRE) Mark Walsh
4 I Am Lorenzo (IRE) Keith Donoghue
5 Jocker Du Moulin (FR) Jordan Gainford
6 Minella Post Kieren Buckley
7 Port Joulain (FR) Danny Mullins
8 Slieve Annilog (IRE) O R Brown (5)
9 The Enabler (IRE) Sam Ewing
10 Weston (GER) Ricky Doyle
Peter O'Hehir's tip: Argento Boy
12.45 The SIS Supporting Irish Racing Irish EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle
1 Patter Merchant (IRE) C P Millar (5)
2 All For Rachel (IRE) Phillip Enright
3 Big Chou (IRE) C Stone-Walsh (5)
4 Churchroad Prince (IRE) M J M O'Sullivan
5 Taponthego (IRE) Darragh O'Keeffe
6 Fenway Park (IRE) Keith Donoghue
7 Ol Man Dingle (IRE) Ricky Doyle
8 Sonny May (IRE) Sean O'Keeffe
9 Savante (IRE) Brian Hayes
10 Artic Lane (IRE) L A McKenna (5)
11 Ballybrittas (IRE) T Power Roche (7)
12 Thisistheway (IRE) Cian Quirke (5)
13 Young Lucy (IRE) Rachael Blackmore
Peter O'Hehir's tip: Taponthego
1.20 The Beat The Bank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle (Grade 3)
1 Kala Conti (FR) D J Gilligan
2 Hispanic Moon (FR) Darragh O'Keeffe
3 Jetara (IRE) Donagh Meyler
4 Risk Belle (FR) Mark Walsh
5 World Of Fortunes (IRE) Jordan Gainford
6 July Flower (FR) Rachael Blackmore
7 Lot of Joy (IRE) Paul Townend
8 Got Glory (FR) Danny Mullins
Peter O'Hehir's Tip: Lot of Joy
1.55 The Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Steeplechase
1 Dunboyne (IRE) Jake Coen
2 Midnight Our Fred (IRE) A Harvey (2)
3 Peaches And Cream (IRE) A Balfe (4)
4 Outside The Door (IRE) A P Kelly
5 Sequestered (IRE) Jack Gilligan (2)
6 Hascoeur Clermont (FR) P M O'Brien (4)
7 Big Stage (IRE) C P Millar (2)
8 Sam Magee (IRE) Richard Condon (2)
9 St Denis's Well (IRE) O R Brown (2)
10 Ballybawn Belter (IRE) P T Smithers (4)
11 Shajak (IRE) J Smith (4)
12 Jasmin De Cotte (FR) Conor Smithers (4)
13 Jouster (FR) C Stone-Walsh
14 Garde La Peche (FR) S D Greene (4)
15 Harvey's Quay (IRE) C M Hogan (4)
16 Dorans Law (IRE) T Power Roche (4)
17 Ballybrack Wood (IRE) E O'Sullivan (4)
18 Secrecies Of Stone (IRE) Cian Quirke
Peter O'Hehir's Tip: Ballybawn Belter
2.30 The Neville Hotels Hurdle (Grade 1)
1 Daddy Long Legs (FR) Danny Mullins
2 Fils D'oudairies (FR) Jordan Gainford
3 King Of Kingsfield (IRE) D J Gilligan
4 Mystical Power (IRE) Mark Walsh
5 State Man (FR) Paul Townend
6 Winter Fog (IRE) Brian Hayes
7 Brighterdaysahead (FR) Sam Ewing
Peter O'Hehir's Tip: State Man
3.05 The Neville Hotels Premier Handicap Hurdle (Listed)
1 Maxxum (IRE) C P Millar (5)
2 Tounsivator (FR) Paul Townend
3 Bottler'secret (IRE) Keith Donoghue
4 Mr Percy (IRE) Daryl Jacob
5 Shadow Rider (FR) A P Kelly (5)
6 Jigoro (FR) F Brickley (7)
7 Hms Seahorse (IRE) Sean O'Keeffe
8 Lucky Lyreen (IRE) D J Gilligan
9 Sa Fureur (IRE) Sam Ewing
10 Al Gasparo (FR) C Stone-Walsh (5)
11 Any Road (IRE) Mark McDonagh
12 No Looking Back (IRE) Phillip Enright
13 So Scottish (FR) Mark Walsh
14 Comfort Zone (IRE) Simon Torrens
15 Kings Hill (IRE) Jack Gilligan (5)
16 Lucky Zebo Darragh O'Keeffe
17 The Busy Fool (IRE) T Power Roche (7)
18 Raglan Road (IRE) Rachael Blackmore
19 Harsh C M Hogan (7)
20 Slane Hill (IRE) A Harvey (5)
21 Park Of Kings (IRE) P T Smithers (7)
22 Sir Allen Cian Quirke (5)
23 Ms Agartha Yeats (IRE) M J M O'Sullivan
Peter O'Hehir's Tip: Sa Fureur
3.40 The Plusvital Flat Race
1 Colcannon (IRE) Mr Derek O'Connor
2 Koktail Brut (FR) Mr H C Swan
3 Sortudo (IRE) Mr Patrick Mullins
4 William Butler (IRE) Mr J M Halford (7)
5 Carrigmoornaspruce (IRE) Mr D L Queally
6 Sunny South West (IRE) Mr A P Ryan (7)
7 Switch From Diesel (IRE) Mr R Barron (5)
Peter O'Hehir's Tip: Sortudo
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