Leopardstown Tips - Best bets on day one of Christmas Festival

One Grade One race will be run at Leopardstown on Monday, along with a Grade Two, a couple of big handicaps, two maiden hurdles and a classy bumper. Here are our free betting tips on day one of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

With Paul Townend siding with the race-fit Zarak The Brave, I was slightly surprised when the favourite was beaten by stablemate LOSSIEMOUTH. Willie Mullins' filly ran out a commanding winner on what was her Irish debut, powering to the front on the approach to the final slight, before kicking clear on the run to the line.

Cougar has looked good during her two victories so far, but the form of his most recent win hasn't worked out well so far. Apart from Padraig Roche's runner, nothing really holds any appeal. I can't see why the favourite will get beaten on Monday.

 AJ Martin usually has a competitive runner in this handicap and I wouldn't be surprised if recent Limerick winner, BROOKIE challenged for the victory.

Martin's five-year-old kept on well from off the pace to finish a close fourth on his handicap debut at Tipperary back in October. Brookie claimed a cosy victory back in maiden company last time out and he still looks well-treated running off this mark of 110.

Fil Dor is the overwhelming favourite to win this Grade One. With the field likely to cut up even further, Gordon Elliott's four-year-old will almost certainly go off at an odds-on price.

SAINT ROI jumped fairly well behind Fil Dor at Navan, as the pair made their chasing debut and there are reasons why Willie Mullins' runner might turn the tables on the favourite on Boxing Day.

Fil Dor had a run under his belt, was better suited by the rain-softened ground and was getting eight pounds from his older rival at the weights. Saint Roi is sure to improve for his first outing of the campaign, he'll prefer the quicker ground the two are likely to face at Leopardstown and Mark Walsh's mount will only have to give Fil Dor six pounds this time around. At the prices, I'd much rather side with Saint Roi.

Broomfield Hall, Final Orders and Brandy Harbour come into this handicap looking to extend winning streaks and all three are likely to be prominent in the market. EMBITTERED, on the other hand, hasn't won for over a year, but I'd give Joseph O'Brien's charge a decent chance.

Having been passed after jumping the last, Embittered found a change of gear to push Big Debates close at Cork on his most recent outing. Claiming jockeys have ridden the winner of this handicap in four out of the last five years and O'Brien will be hoping that trend continues after he booked leading amateur jockey, Rob James to ride Embittered on Monday.