Leopardstown attracts top horses

Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott dominate the entries for the raft of Grade One races at Leopardstown over Christmas, with Douvan leading the charge for the champion trainer.

The six-year-old is unbeaten in 10 starts for Mullins and is the key name in the Paddy Power CashCard Chase, the 100,000 Euro feature on the second day of the four-day extravaganza that kicks off on St Stephen's Day.

Mullins has a strong hand for the two-mile-one-furlong event with Un De Sceaux, Vroum Vroum Mag and Black Hercules also among his seven entries, while Elliott has Tell Us More and The Game Changer.

The Racing Post Novice Chase is the pick on the opening card, with Min featuring among Mullins' 13 entries along with the highly-touted American Tom, Bellshill and the talented mare Listen Dear.

However, Elliott has Diamond King in the mix, and Henry de Bromhead's Identity Thief would be another leading player.

The Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle is the other Grade One on December 27 and the 40 entries include Elliott's emphatic Navan winner Death Duty, the impressive maiden winner Baltazar D'Allier and four-time winner Blood Crazed Tiger.

The talented mare Augusta Kate, owned by golfer Lee Westwood, ex-England international footballer Alan Shearer and TV personalities Ant and Dec amongst others, leads the Mullins charge.

Day three is highlighted by the Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle which is shaping up into a top-class contest with Apple's Jade, Jezki, Nichols Canyon, Snow Falcon, Vroum Vroum Mag and British-raider Unowhatimeanharry all featuring in the 20 entries for the race.

The Neville Hotels Novice Chase is one of the lead events on the final day of the meeting, with the Mouse Morris-trained World Hurdle runner-up Alpha Des Obeaux a possible to clash with previous Grade One-winning hurdlers Bellshill, Briar Hill, Lieutenant Colonel, Martello Tower, Prince Of Scars and Yorkhill.

The Ryanair Hurdle provides a true finale to the meeting, though, with Mullins entering Champion Hurdle winners Annie Power and Faugheen. The pair are only entered in this race at the Christmas Festival and Mullins trains half of the 18 entries.

Triumph Hurdle winner Ivanovich Gorbatov and Jer's Girl may represent owner JP McManus, while Petit Mouchoir, who fell when travelling strongly in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, is also included for De Bromhead and Gigginstown House Stud.

Elliott's Apple's Jade is among the entries alongside the talented mare Missy Tata and the novice Labaik, who is two from two over hurdles so far and also holds an entry for the Paddy Power Future Champions Novices' Hurdle.