ITV Racing Tips on December 28th - Best bets at Leopardstown and Leicester

Here are our free ITV Racing tips at Leopardstown and Leicester.

If Willie Mullins is the man to follow in the Graded races at major festivals, then Gordon Elliott is the go-to guy for the handicaps. Elliott accounts for ten of the 28 runners in this Pertemps Qualifier and I fancy the chances of five-year-old novice MUSIC DRIVE.

After winning a maiden hurdle at Galway in October, Music Drive has twice placed in decent races around Cheltenham, including a runner-up finish to Hermes Allen in the Hyde. Music Drive looks every-inch a three-miler and this opening handicap mark of 129 doesn't seem excessive.

I also fancy a punt on Thomas Mullins' outsider TAKARENGO at an even longer price. Danny Mullins' mount stayed on from the rear to finish a very good fifth behind Shewearsitwell in the recent Qualifier at Punchestown and the handicapper has dropped Takarengo's mark by two pounds for that effort. He could run much better than his current odds suggest.

Henry De Bromhead would dearly love to win the race in honour of his son, Jack, who tragically died earlier this year. Bob Olinger will fly the flag for the De Bromhead team, but I'm not convinced that this talented seven-year-old - who showed plenty of speed during his unbeaten novice hurdles campaign - really wants this step up to three miles.

Home By The Lee will be looking to back up that shock victory in the Lismullen Hurdle. Zanahiyr was well beaten that day, but Gordon Elliott's five-year-old suffered two genuine injuries during that race and I expect he'll be much more competitive over this trip.

Yet, I'm finding it very hard to get away from FLOORING PORTER who is, undoubtedly, the best staying hurdler in the sport at the moment. Gavin Cromwell's two-time Stayers' Hurdle winner won this race two years ago and would have retained his crown, had Klassical Dream not stolen a five length headstart. With that run in the Lismullen under his belt and no Klassical Dream in the field, the stage seems set for Flooring Porter to regain his Christmas Hurdle crown.

Read our full guide to the 2022 Savills Chase to find out who we're backing in Wednesday's highlight at Leopardstown.

If you plan on watching any of Wednesday's races via a mobile or tablet, then check out our Savills Chase Live Streaming page.

Playful Saint clearly has plenty going for him. At the prices, I'll take a chance on Tom Symonds' French import ISSAM, who should be seen to much better effect on heavy ground.

A two-time winner over hurdles in France, Symonds' threw his four-year-old into a red-hot handicap hurdle on quick ground at Wetherby on his stable debut. Issam shaped fairly well for much of the race, before fading out of contention following a slow jump at the second-last. The handicapper has dropped his mark by three pounds for that effort and I see no reason why Issam won't be much more competitive.

I've never been a huge fan of I Am Maximus and he didn't jump very convincingly on his first start over fences. I'd rather take the favourite on with chasing debutante GENTLEMANSGAME, who beat I Am Maximus' former stablemate and a Boxing Day winner at Kempton, Balco Coastal in the point-to-point field.

Mouse Morris' six-year-old has secured some good results over hurdles the last two seasons, twice placing in Grade Ones at the Punchestown Festival. Gentlemansgame is rated the best of these over hurdles and chasing was always going to bring out the best in this scopey son of Gentlewave.

Having impressed during his novice hurdles season last term, OUR JET finished second on his chasing debut at Southwell last month. Dan Skelton's six-year-old was giving eight pounds to market rival Gemirande and only succumbed to defeat in the closing stages, as the top two pulled 13 lengths clear of the chasing pack.

As most of Dan Skelton's novice chasers do, Our Jet jumped neatly on his first start over fences and he should come on plenty for that reappearance.