Christmas & Brave tackles Ormonde Stakes Father Christmas and Wicklow Brave fly the flag for Ireland in the Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes at Chester on Friday. Aidan O'Brien's Father Christmas has not been seen since finishing third in the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot, while the Willie Mullins-trained Wicklow Brave was last sighted finishing third in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle in November. Sir Michael Stoute's Dartmouth will aim to build on his seasonal reappearance in the Ormonde. Owned by the Queen, Dartmouth won the rearranged Group Three John Porter Stakes at Chelmsford in great style and will bid to follow up at the same level here. Chief opposition could come from Tom Dascombe's Cymro, who himself was impressive when defying top weight in a decent handicap at Thirsk on his seasonal return. Oriental Fox, beaten a short head in the Cesarewitch, Elidor and Blue Rambler complete the seven-runner field.
