Plenty To Look Forward To At Leopardstown A strong competitive field of seven runners has been declared for the first of seven Grade 1 races this week - The Racing Post Novice Chase and it has set the bar high . Both Min and Identity Thief are declared as they put unbeaten records over fences on the line, making this one of the most eagerly awaited races of the season so far.  The clash of leading Cheltenham Festival contender’s Min and Identity Thief in the Racing Post Novice Chase should be a mouth-watering start to the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day.  Also in store is the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle with ten declared for the race. The Joseph O’Brien-trained Landofhopeandglory is aiming to extend his own winning sequence to four consecutive wins over hurdles. Opposition for the leading Triumph Hurdle candidate will once again include the Willie Mullins-trained Bapaume and Gordon Elliott’s Mega Fortune who were both behind Landofhopeandglory last time out and also declared to run is the recent Fairyhouse winner Prospectus for trainer Gavin Cromwell.  Pat Keogh, CEO Leopardstown commented: “We have worked hard in enhancing the appeal of each day to ensure that we offer something for everybody over the four days of the Festival. We expect in excess of 55,000 people to attend and whilst growing the numbers is important, our main focus is to ensure that those that come, enjoy a racing and social experience that will bring them back again. We are delighted that the racing looks absolutely top class, quality racing is key to everything we do at Leopardstown . It looks like the weather will behave so we are all set for four days to remember.” The Leopardstown Christmas Festival commences on St. Stephen’s Day, December 26th and runs until Sunday December 29th.  The going at 8.00am today was YIELDING on both the hurdle and chase tracks. The weather will remaining unsettled up to and including Christmas Day with high pressure forecast from St. Stephens Day onwards with clear bright spells for the festival.   Gates open at 10.00am each day.  Patrons arriving by car are reminded to arrive early and use Exit 15 on the M50. Luas passengers should alight at the Sandyford stop. A complimentary shuttle bus runs from 9.30am — 5.30pm each day. For the first time, Patrons can take the DART on 27-29th December, with a courtesy shuttle bus leaving Blackrock DART station each day at 10.00, 10:45 and 11:30am each morning. Entertainment over the four days includes; The Springsteens, the Connor Mckeon Band, Zoe Conway and Brian Kennedy. The Leopardstown Winning Line will commence at 11am each day in the Festival Marquee which will preview the day’s racing with a panel of racing experts including Kevin O’Ryan, Denis Kirwan, Paddy Power and guests such as Henry De Bromhead and jockey Johnny Burke.
