'Star in the making' - Who to watch on St Stephen's Day St Stephen's Day is the launch of one of the busiest weeks of the year for racing fans as the post-Christmas action begins to come thick and fast between here and New Year's Day. Irish action will see the start of the Christmas Festivals at Leopardstown and Limerick as well as the standalone card from Down Royal. Three meetings, with 21 races including three graded contests, on a busy Friday and we have selected an owner, trainer and jockey to look out for on December 26th. Owner — JP McManus One of racing's great patrons, JP McManus runs more than a dozen horses in Ireland on Friday for a variety of yards, large and small. The promising Narciso Has goes at Leopardstown (1.10) in a Grade 2 novice for Willie Mullins, while County Final has similar aspirations at Limerick (1.33) for the much more modest Eric McNamara operation and top hunter chaser Its On The Line is at Down Royal (2.33) for Emmet Mullins. Still, all eyes for the owner will be on Kempton the King George (2.30) by that time as Fact To File and Mark Walsh seek to give McManus a maiden win in Britain's festive showpiece. It's one of the few major prizes missing from the McManus CV and he has made no secret of his desire to alter that, accepting the challenge once more of a rematch with John Durkan conqueror Gaelic Warrior as well top UK hopes The Jukebox Man, Jango Baie and Djelo as well as Joseph O'Brien's 2024 winner Banbridge and Il Est Francais in a proper Christmas cracker. Trainer — Gordon Elliott It has been a superb month or so for Gordon Elliott, including four-timers at Fairyhouse and Cork on major Sundays, but can the Cullentra handler keep the pace going over Christmas, with rival Willie Mullins expected to up the tempo? Time will tell. The power-pair clash early at Leopardstown with unbeaten Gigginstown four-year-old Ballyfad tackling a Mullins newcomer of note in the TRI Equestrian Maiden Hurdle (12.05) and the intriguing prospect of seeing El Cairos — formerly owned by David Maxwell — now having his hurdles/stable bow for Elliott in the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle (12.35) where he meets well-touted Doctor Du Mesnil from the Mullins yard. That looks like a race not to be missed. Elliott runs a whopping 27 horses across three Irish venues on Friday but perhaps none more exciting or high-profile than Romeo Coolio in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase (2.20) at Leopardstown. He's 2-2 over fences and looked a star in the making when winning the Drinmore at Fairyhouse. He easily won a Grade 1 novice hurdle here last Christmas and is expected to repeat the feat over the larger obstacles. Jockey — Danny Mullins Paul Townend has been seconded to Kempton Park for the King George, where he rides Gaelic Warrior in a race Willie Mullins has also aimed Fact To File at as they renew their hostilities following a brilliant John Durkan duel at Punchestown. That means Danny Mullins is the main man for Team Closutton on day one of Leopardstown's second-biggest jumps meeting of the year. 'Canny Danny' rides the likes of Narciso Has in the Grade 2 Changing Times Brewery Juvenile Hurdle (1.10) and Salvator Mundi in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase (2.20). Earlier, he has exciting hurdling newcomers Leader D'allier in the TRI Equestrian Maiden Hurdle (12.05) and Doctor Du Mesnil in the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle (12.35) and he has also picked up the ride on the promising Gowran Park winner Welluknow for trainer Mark Molloy in the E-Auctions Novice Handicap Hurdle (1.45). It's a strong book of rides for day one at Leopardstown and Danny Mullins could enjoy a fast start.
