A quick (but thoroughly researched) look across the Irish sea at the wealth of racing over the next two days.
BOXING DAY / ST STEPHEN'S DAY
Limerick, 14.35
This Grade 1 has grown in prominence over the years and looks competitive enough this year, with 4 first time out winners taking on Assemble.
He is the biggest price of the lot, trading at about 7.5 to place on the exchange or 25/1 with bookmakers. The others are all short enough on the back of limited evidence. Asterion Forlonge beat a left-jumping Conflated but is the right favourite.
The others have all made good starts to their chase careers, but none have come up against Envoi Allen, who Assemble succumbed to in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse. It may prove that being beaten 9 lengths by him is not bad form, and Assemble was the only one of the three rivals that day to take him on at all during the race so can be marked up. I think he rates value for a place in this Grade 1.
SUNDAY
Leopardstown, 13.45
This is another hot enough Grade 1, with the market leaders for the Supreme (Ballyadam) and Ballymore (Appreciate It) going head to head, along with several last time out winners, including Keskonrisk, Thedevilscoachman and Call Me Lyreen. A serious affair.
However the one that seems to have been overlooked is Ngolo, who won a Grade 3 nicely before staying on to be a close third to Ballyadam in the Grade 1 Royal Bond. Everything went wrong for him that day, with the slow pace meaning he was keen, and then he was caught out by an injection of pace that left him on the back foot. He has stamina in abundance and a more strongly run race will suit him well.
Trainer Willie Mullins has hinted at different tactics, which may involve him making the running, and he'll set brisk fractions in order not to inconvenience his stablemate Appreciate It, who is also likely to want further in time. Ngolo is currently trading at around 30 for the Supreme at Cheltenham, shorter than all in this field bar the front two, suggesting that many have high hopes for him in the long term. 14/1 is good each way value.
Leopardstown, 14.20
This is a typically strong 2 mile handicap hurdle, and the weights are headed by Eclair De Beaufeu, running off 135. This is a full 18lbs lower than his lofty chase mark and the same as he ran off on his return to hurdles last time when falling two out.
I'm surprised he's been left on that mark as he looked set to win, making an eye-catching move forward just before crashing out. Up until then, his jumping had been a bit iffy, as was expected after coming back from chasing, and there's every chance he can improve in that department with that run under his belt. He's 16/1, double the price he went off last time, and rates a great each way chance at the weights.