Pere and Fly head Christmas markets

Ladbrokes have opened betting on two of the feature races at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, and they expect Notre Pere and Hurricane Run to put recent lack-lustre performances behind them in the Lexus Chase and Leopardstown Golf December Festival Hurdle respectively.

The Jim Dreaper-trained Notre Pere heads the 'Lexus' market at 7/2. The mud-loving French-bred is currently the highest rated Irish chaser on a mark of 167 but failed to sparkle when a well-beaten fifth behind Kauto Star at Haydock last month.

Denman is among the 26 entries for the Lexus Chase. However connections have already stated their intention to give the dual Hennessy Gold Cup winner a Christmas break and head for the Aon Chase at Newbury in February as a build up for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

In his expected absence Ladbrokes have Joncol, runner-up to Tranquil Sea over an inadequate trip on his reappearance at Naas, at 4/1 and RSA Chase winner Cooldine next best at 9/2.

Ladbrokes have also priced up the Leopardstown Golf December Festival Hurdle and make Hurricane Fly 5/2 favourite to reverse previous Punchestown placings with Solwhit (3/1).

Voler La Vedette, whose Down Royal defeat of Go Native was well-advertised by the runner-up in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle last Saturday, is next in the betting at 4/1.

Go Native is among the 18 entered for the 'December Hurdle' but, like sole British entry Starluck, is expected to run at Kempton on St Stephens Day.

Lexus Chase betting: 7-2 Notre Pere 4-1 Joncol 9-2 Cooldine 5-1 Voy Por Ustedes, Tranquil Sea 6-1 In Compliance 12-1 Aran Concerto 14-1 Schindler's Hunt 16-1 Casey Jones, Cloudy Lane, Money Trix, My Will 20-1 Siegmaster, War Of Attrition 25-1 Bar.

December Hurdle betting: 5-2 Hurricane Fly 3-1 Solwhit 4-1 Muirhead, Voler La Vedette 5-1 Catch Me 7-1 Sublimity 8-1 Donnas Palm, 12-1 Hardy Eustace 16-1 Aitmatov, Mourad, Jumbo Rio 20-1 Bar.