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Christmas Horse Racing Tips - December 26-January 1

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Leopardstown Tips on December 26th - Christmas Festival Day 1 Tips

jon-vine
Jon Vine
Editor
Last updated: Sat 23 Dec 2023 20:40
The Leopardstown Christmas Festival Day 1 headlines with two Graded races. Among the horses, Facile Vega aims for his first Grade One win over fences in the Racing Post Novice Chase. Stablemate Mirazur West makes his hurdles debut. Ascending sets a high standard in the Maiden Hurdle with NO FLIES ON HIM promising a keen competition. MIGHTY BANDIT is favored in the South Dublin Juvenile Hurdle. DOLLAR NOLIMIT is set for a lenient opening in his handicap debut. Lastly, SKIPPIN COURT is a strong contender in the Racing Post Handicap Chase.
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Jon Vine 23 Dec 2023
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  • Tips for Leopardstown on Tuesday 26th December
  • One Grade One race will be run on day one of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival
  • No Flies On Him, Mighty Bandit and Dollar Nolimit feature in our selections
Expired
leopardstown december
Leopardstown Christmas Festival. (Getty)
    Leopardstown Day 1 Tips
  • 12:00pm Leopardstown - Maiden Hurdle Tips
  • 1:10pm Leopardstown - South Dublin Juvenile Hurdle Tips
  • 1:45pm Leopardstown - Novice Handicap Hurdle Tips
  • 2:55pm Leopardstown - Racing Post Handicap Chase Tips

Leopardstown's Christmas Festival gets off to a flying start on Tuesday, with two Graded races featuring on the opening day's card.

Facile Vega faces just three rivals as he looks to claim his first Grade One win over fences in the Racing Post Novice Chase at 2:20pm. Stablemate, Mirazur West will make his long-awaited hurdles debut in the second maiden on the card, for which he's currently the short-priced favourite.

I've taken a look through the rest of the races on day one of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and picked out my best betting tips.

Leopardstown Christmas Festival Day 1 Tips


12:00pm Leopardstown - Maiden Hurdle Tips


Ascending is the most experienced runner in this field and he sets a high standard in terms of rating. Anotherway ran up to a decent level on the flat in France in 2022 and he'll make his debut for Messrs Mullins, Munir & Suoede.

Edward O'Grady, meanwhile, will unleash NO FLIES ON HIM (10/3), who was snapped up by JP McManus following an impressive point-to-point win at Knockanard last February. Mark Walsh's mount came through with a late charge to beat Jango Baie, Williethebuilder and Will Knott - who've all won under rules for British handlers since. O'Grady hasn't wasted any time by running his five-year-old in bumpers and I expect he'll jump well on his first start for new connections.

1:10pm Leopardstown - South Dublin Juvenile Hurdle Tips


Kala Conti and Nurburgring renew their rivalry, having fought out the finish of the Grade Three Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse recently. Batman Girac disappointed massively as the favourite that day, but Willie Mullins has reapplied the tongue tie that he wore during both starts in France and an improved performance is expected. I might have a small each-way bet on him a 25/1.

Mullins will run a handful of his other French imports, including Grade Three-winning filly Kargese. Fellow filly, Miss Manzor will also don the Kenny Alexander silks for the first time, with Karafon carrying the double green silks of Munir & Soeude.

Gordon Elliott's three-pronged attack includes MIGHTY BANDIT (11/8), who sprinted clear of his rivals to make a winning hurdles debut at Punchestown last month. The third and fourth from that contest have come out and won since, giving the form a timely boost. I don't doubt that Mighty Bandit is the best of Gordon Elliott's trio and he could be the solid option in this intriguing contest.

1:45pm Leopardstown - Novice Handicap Hurdle Tips


Nine days after a solid run behind two Willie Mullins horses at Thurles, DOLLAR NOLIMIT (8/1) makes his handicap debut off a lenient opening mark.

Joseph O'Brien's four-year-old was ridden prominently on his first couple of starts over hurdles by Daryl Jacob. Conor Stone-Walsh then employed more patient tactics last at Thurles, where Dollar Nolimit settled better and finished off his race nicely. Jacob gets back in the saddle on Tuesday and this neat little jumper should enjoy quick ground around a sharp track like Leopardstown.

2:55pm Leopardstown - Racing Post Handicap Chase Tips


Chavez romped to victory on his second chase start for Willie Mullins last January and Paul Townend will want to make the running on this keen-going sort. Fire Attack is another known front-runner. The hat-trick-seeking Typical Thomas has done his best work from the front, while Drumbear and The Big Champ are also likely to be up with the early pace.

SKIPPIN COURT (11/1), in contrast, will be dropped in by Kevin Sexton. Peter Fahey's charge has failed to see out two-and-a-half miles several times, but his record over this shorter trip is decent, having won twice over hurdles at Listowel and once around Sligo. Skippin Court jumped well on his return to chasing at Wexford last time out and the going on Boxing Day should be much more suitable. He's the one I'm keen to back each-way when the odds are released.

Verdict

Leopardstown Day 1 Tips:

Best Bet1: Mighty Bandit 1:10pm Leopardstown @11/8 at Betgoodwin - 15 Units
Best Bet2: No Flies On Him 12:00pm Leopardstown @10/3 at BOYLE Sports - 10 Units
Best Bet3: Dollar Nolimit E/W 1:45pm Leopardstown @8/1 at bet365 - 10 Units
Best Bet4: Skippin Court E/W 2:55pm Leopardstown @11/1 at BOYLE Sports - 5 Units
Mighty Bandit
1:10pm Leopardstown
@11/8 - 15 Units
Bet £10 Get £10
with promo code NEWBONUS

Join betgoodwin with promo code NEWBONUS and get access to their Bet £10 Get £10 as a free ACCA welcome offer. 18+ only. T&Cs apply.

Bet at Betgoodwin
No Flies On Him
12:00pm Leopardstown
@10/3 - 10 Units
Bet £10 Get £40
in free bets

18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply.

Bet at BOYLE Sports
Dollar Nolimit E/W
1:45pm Leopardstown
@8/1 - 10 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad

Bet at bet365
Skippin Court E/W
2:55pm Leopardstown
@11/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £40
in free bets

18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply.

Bet at BOYLE Sports

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Leopardstown Christmas Festival Day One

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