Leopardstown Christmas Festival

The countdown is on in earnest for the four day National Hunt Festival at Leopardstown commencing on Monday 26th December.

The Festival is of huge importance to Leopardstown with its attendance accounting for 35% of the year's attendance (63,219 in 2004); 32% of on course Bookmaker betting; 34% of Tote betting and 30% of total Racing Income. The Festival accounts for 16.5% of Leopardstown's annual total prizemoney.

Sponsorship

Leopardstown is once again pleased to announce that all races for the Festival are fully sponsored for the second year running. The Durkan Group continue their sponsorship of the First day of the Festival and the prizefund for the day is now at ?253,000.

Paddy Power Bookmakers continue their long association with Leopardstown and sponsor all races on Day 2 ? sponsoring the Paddy Power Chase for the 10th consecutive year. The Paddy Power Chase has been increased in value and is now worth ?190,000 in prizemoney. Total prizefund for the day is now ?387,500.

All 7 sponsors remain in place from last year on Day 3 of the Festival with the feature race being the Lexus Chase of ?150,000. This marks the second year of Lexus' sponsorship at Leopardstown. The prizefund for the day stands at ?354,000.

Bewleys Hotels have taken over the Title Sponsorship of the fourth day of the Festival. Bewleys Hotels has sponsored the Festival Hurdle for the last two years and have now agreed to sponsor the entire card on the last day. The total prizefund for the day is now ?217,000 with the bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle increased in value by ?10,000 to ?90,000.

Total prizemoney for the Festival now stands at ?1.211 million up ?59,000 on 2004.

Leading Trainer & Jockey Awards

Mr. Frank Clarke in association with Waterford Crystal will sponsor the Leading Trainer and Jockey Awards over the Super Seven Meetings ? Christmas Festival, Pierse, AIG and Hennessy Meetings.

Sales

Advanced ticket sales for the Christmas Festival are strong. Corporate facilities are sold out for the 4 days and the Silver Service Restaurant is also booked out. However there is still limited availability for the 26th and 27th for the Carvery Package. Fado Restaurant now situated in the old ICON building will be open this Christmas for the first time offering a variety of menu choices available on a walk in basis.

Travel and Traffic

Patrons are strongly advised to leave ample time to get to the racecourse. The gates will open each morning at 10.15am and traffic is expected to be heavy each day. Regular updates will be given to AA Roadwatch and patrons can tune in for updated information. Those traveling by car can now access the racecourse from the M50 at Junction 15 from which there is a dedicated access road to the racecourse. The Luas Line from St Stephens Green to Sandyford now takes patrons within a 15 minute walk of the racecourse. Buses will depart Busarus for the racecourse at 11.00am and 11.20am each day, returning after racing.

Leopardstown Morning Line

All facilities at the racecourse will open from 10.15am with breakfast available from this time. The now annual Leopardstown Morning Line, sponsored by Paddy Power Bookmakers, will give updates and tips to racing's early birds.

Powerscourt Promotion

There are just a short number of days left for annual members and seatholders to buys their 2006 membership and be eligible for inclusion in our superb Powerscourt Promotion. All Leopardstown Members who have purchased their 2006 membership before 20th December will be included in a draw for a year's nomination to Powerscourt Golf Club.

Television Coverage

All 4 days of the Festival will be covered live on RTE Television for the first time ever.

Tote Jackpots

The Tote has guaranteed the Jackpot each day at ?30,000.

Ground Conditions

The ground at Leopardstown is currently yielding to soft with no rain since last Saturday night.

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Preview of the main races over the four days:

Monday 26th December ? Day 1

Durkan New Homes Novice Steeplechase

Won in dramatic circumstances by Mariah Rollins last year following the fall of Sir Oj at the final fence when looking set for victory, this Grade One contest has once again attracted a quality entry of 29. After his runaway success in a Grade 2 event at Punchestown last month, Eamon Sheehy's Justified sets a fair standard here and this ultra smart novice is sure to be strongly fancied to make it three from three over fences. His immediate victim at Punchestown was Noel Meade's Wild Passion and while the distance between them was fourteen lengths on that occasion, there are grounds for believing that Meade's charge can get a lot closer this time. Trainer Arthur Moore has won this race in the past with the likes of Native Upmanship and both Mansony and The Railway Man made impressive debuts over fences at Naas and at Navan respectively while Edward O'Grady's top class hurdler, Back In Front, is an interesting entry. Last season's Champion bumper winner, Missed That, trained by Willie Mullins, was a disappointment on his chasing debut at Thurles last Thursday and would need to improve considerably on that effort to figure while French raider, Foreman, is no stranger to Leopardstown having won the 2004 AIG Europe Champion Hurdle while he also finished runner up in last season's Arkle Trophy in February. Paul Nolan's Kill Devil Hill was a smart novice over hurdles last season and having won the Pierse Group Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday would have to be a leading fancy although the suspicion would have to be that this two mile one furlong distance would be too short for him. Indeed, there would be good grounds for believing that Arthur Moore's Mansony, third to Kill Devil Hill in that Fairyhouse contest, would have sound claims of reversing those placings over this shorter trip.

Tuesday 27th December

Day 2

Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Steeplechase

This race revolves around Jessica Harrington's Moscow Flyer. Dual winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase he was unfortunately forced to miss his intended engagement in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown last weekend after connections found he was suffering from a lung infection but if fully recovered from that incident, he is sure to take the world of beating. Winner of 19 out his 21 completed starts over fences, Moscow Flyer is likely to renew rivalry with Central House who defeated him in the Fortria Chase at Navan in mid-November. Central House won this race 12 months ago when he had a below par Rathgar Beau behind in fourth place and Dessie Hughes charge is sure to be a leading player again. Rathgar Beau went on to have an excellent season winning four Grade 2 races and rounded off his year with a thrilling victory over Moscow Flyer in the Kerrygold Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival. He showed that he is going to be a force to be reckoned with again this season when finishing a close second to War Of Attrition on his seasonal debut at Clonmel a couple of weeks ago and would be a leading fancy here if taking his place. A very interesting entry here is last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup hero, Kicking King, who has failed to get off the mark in two attempts this season while Noel Meade's Watson Lake has done nothing wrong in winning his last two starts and would have to be respected. Sporazene fell at an early stage in the Tingle Creek Chase won by his stable companion, Kauto Star, at Sandown last Saturday and would be of considerable interest if trainer Paul Nicholls sends him over while the likes of Hi Cloy, Fota Island and Mossy Green are useful performers in their own right and are worthy contenders among the 16 entries.

Paddy Power Steeplechase (Extended Handicap)

A hugely competitive contest in store here with 70 entries, of which over 55 horses are in the handicap proper. Richard Ford's Forest Gunner, Francois Doumen's recent Cheltenham winner, Innox, and Frances Crowley's Nil Desperandum are the joint top weights at 11st 10lb while last year's Betfred Gold Cup winner, Jack High, also figures near the top of the handicap. The Martin Brassil trained Numbersixvalverde, who completed a fantastic big race double last season when winning the Thyestes Chase at Gowran and the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse, is sure to be among the fancied contenders and showed up well when fourth over hurdles at Fairyhouse last Sunday while last year's winner, Keepatem, will attract plenty of interest from a 14lb higher mark although we had yet to have a dual winner in this very valuable contest since it was first held in 1995. Recent Troytown Chase winner, Prince Of Tara, has been raised 12lbs for that success but with only three runs over fences under his belt, this one has plenty of scope for improvement with connections hoping he can develop into a Cheltenham Gold Cup candidate while the two that chased him home at Navan, A New Story and Monterey Bay, are both likely to fancy their chances of reversing that form. Black Apalachi, from the Philip Rothwell stable, and Ted Walsh's Southern Vic, are just two of several promising novices entered while the much improved Brave Eagle, trained by Pat Kelly, will be one of the lightweights which should attract plenty of market support. There are 14 foreign trained raiders engaged which include the 2003 winner, World Wide Web, trained by Jonjo O'Neill while Red Devil Robert is one of three entered by Paul Nicholls in what has all the makings of another super race.

Wednesday 28th December Day 3

Ascon/Rohcon Novice Steeplechase

35 entries have been received for this Grade One contest which always put a premium on stamina. Following his fine win at Cheltenham last month when he defeated the highly rated Celtic Son by eight lengths, Michael Hourigan's Church Island is sure to be a leading contender. Already a winner on two occasions over this three mile trip, he sets a very decent standard and will be out to gain compensation after unseating his rider at the very first fence in the Pierse Group Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse last Sunday. Christy Roche's Far From Trouble looked like one to follow in a higher grade after winning comfortably at Thurles a couple of weeks ago although he was beaten on his most recent outing over the course last Thursday. Slim Pickings and Kerryhead Windfarm fought out a tight finish to the Irish Field Novice Chase at Punchestown a couple of weeks ago with Slim Pickings just getting the better of his rival by a head and both are likely to appreciate this slightly longer distance while Ted Walsh's Southern Vic justified strong market support when winning on his debut at Galway in late October and would also merit respect. Kill Devil Hill had to battle hard to get the better of Mr Babbage at Punchestown last time out but showed his class with a game win in the Pierse Group Drinmore Chase and although connections would rather keep him to shorter distances for the moment, he would have to be strongly fancied if allowed to take his chance. Of the horses that have yet to appear over fences to date Philip Fenton's Sher Beau and Edward O'Grady's Back In Front are two that have already shown excellent form over hurdles and if taking to the bigger obstacles would have the class to make their presence felt.

Lexus Steeplechase

Last year's winner Beef Or Salmon brought the house down as he defeated the ill-fated Best Mate in great style and following his fine second to Kingscliff in the Betfair Chase at Haydock recently, Michael Hourigan's charge would be difficult to beat if lining up having also taken this Grade One contest in 2002. Another dual winner of this race is Ted Walsh's Rince Ri but he would need to recapture his very best form to be a factor while last year's English Grand National hero, Hedgehunter, is an interesting entry. Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Kicking King, has also been entered but connections have already stated that the King George VI Chase at Sandown is their preferred option. ?Mouse' Morris' War Of Attrition has looked a really top performer in winning at Punchestown and at Clonmel in recent months and if continuing to show improvement is sure to take a lot of beating. Michael O'Brien's Forget The Past won the Ascon/Rohcon Novice Chase at this meeting last year and he should improve considerably on his unplaced run in the Paddy Power Chase at Cheltenham in mid-November while Jack High, winner of the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown last April, is another that could make his presence felt. Francois Doumen has entered L'Ami, who finished a good second to Trabolgan in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury recently while Paul Nicholls' Cornish Rebel, third in the Hennessy and runner up in the Scottish National last April, and Jonjo O'Neill's Keen Leader are three overseas raiders that make up a field of 14 in what should be a top class race.

Thursday 29th December Day 4 bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle

Reigning dual champion hurdler, Hardy Eustace, is one of 16 entries for this Grade One contest in what is likely to be a really mouth watering contest. Third to Macs Joy and Brave Inca in this race last season, Hardy Eustace is obviously being trained for a third attempt at the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next March and if lining up here, is likely to need the outing. Brave Inca was a narrow winner of the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown defeating Essex by half a length with a hampered Harchibald back in third and all three are set to clash again. While Brave Inca failed to cope with Solerina and Golden Cross in a thrilling Ballymore Properties Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday, the heavy ground was not in his favour and a better showing can be expected here. Other notable entries in what could be the race of the meeting are the long absent Sadlers Wings, trained by Willie Mullins, while Colm Murphy's Feathard Lady is unbeaten after four outings over hurdles and is clearly a classy sort. Jonjo O'Neill has entered recent impressive Cheltenham winner, Lingo, along with Intersky Falcon while Michael Halford's Golden Cross was a 66/1 winner of this race in 2003 and recently won the November Handicap on the flat at Leopardstown before making Solerina pull out all the stops to beat him at Fairyhouse on Sunday. All in all this should be an absolute cracker and rounds off a wonderful 4 days of national hunt racing.