McNamaras likely to be to the fore at Leopardstown A field of six will line-up for the highlight on day one of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, the Grade 1 Bord na Mona with Nature Novice Chase on St Stephen's Day. Favourite, Sizing Europe will have to overcome Bobs Pride, Captain Cee Bee, Fosters Cross, Osana and Schelm if he is to land the €80,000 two mile one furlong contest. Robbie McNamara, rider of Bobs Pride, will have a busy day. The Limerick amateur will partner the likely very short-priced favourite, Rite Of Passage, in the opener, Universal Truth, another very strong contender for Doctor Lambe and Dermot Weld in the second, and on what could be an excellent day for these connections, Elegant Concorde will contest the bumper with big hopes. His brother Andrew will again team-up with the most exciting juvenile hurdler in the country, Alaivan in the Grade 2 Inforthenight.ie Juvenile Hurdle. A reproduction of his Gowran Park romp will see his seven rivals, headed by Cross Appeal, struggle to match-up.
