'Bona fide contender' - Which stars are set to run over the Christmas period? The festive period is one of the best times of the year for horse racing, as there’s Grade 1 racing on both sides of the Irish Sea. Leopardstown and Limerick host two excellent four-day festivals, whilst Kempton and Chepstow offer up some Christmas crackers in Britain. We should get to see a number of stars over the next couple of weeks and we’ve picked out 10 of the most notable. Stars on show Romeo Coolio looks like a natural over fences and he won a Grade 1 last time out. He’s set to drop back in trip for the Racing Post Novice Chase on Boxing Day and victory would surely solidify his status as a bonafide contender for the Arkle at Cheltenham in March. Fact To File has won at each of the last two Cheltenham Festivals and he came out on top with a very impressive display in the Ryanair Chase last season. Second in the John Durkan on seasonal reappearance, he’ll be a player in either the King George or the Savills Chase. Speaking of the John Durkan, Gaelic Warrior got the better of Fact To File that day and had previously confirmed that he’s a proper Grade 1 chaser when winning the Bowl at Aintree in the spring. It’s going to be a big season for him and the King George is on the agenda. Nicky Henderson’s Sir Gino looks like a special horse and he impressively dispatched Ballyburn on his first start over fences at Kempton last year. He’s not been seen since but is set to reappear in Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day. Champion Chase hero Marine Nationale could be set to line up in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown. After winning at both Cheltenham and Aintree last season, he’ll be expected to come out on top against Majborough in a big Grade 1 clash. Final Demand failed to deliver at Cheltenham but impressive Grade 1 wins at Leopardstown and Punchestown either side of that mean that he’s a major contender for all the top novice chases. Willie Mullins’ gelding will be the one to beat in the Faugheen Novice Chase. Ballyburn couldn’t quite live up to expectations as a novice chaser last term but he did win at the Dublin Racing Festival. Back over hurdles this season, he was just denied by Teahupoo in the Hatton’s Grace and will appreciate the return to three miles in Leopardstown’s version of the Christmas Hurdle. Galopin Des Champs is the best staying chaser of his generation and he could make his seasonal return in the Savills Chase. An injury setback led to him missing the John Durkan and you would imagine he’ll come on significantly for the run. Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin produced a career-best performance to win the Gold Cup in March at the expense of Galopin Des Champs. He’ll need to go well in the Savills Chase after a bitterly disappointing display at Punchestown on his reappearance. The Champion Hurdle division is an intriguing one this year, with State Man out for the season and Constitution Hill losing the ability to jump hurdles. Lossiemouth threw her hat into the ring by winning the Morgiana Hurdle easily last month and she’s very much the one to beat in Leopardstown’s December Hurdle.
