Yorkhill and ‘John’ set for Christmas cracker
A CHRISTMAS cracker looks on the cards at Leopardstown next Thursday if Sizing John and Yorkhill stand their ground for the new conditions chase over three miles.
The high-class pair remain on course for a mouthwatering clash after both featured among 22 confirmations for the new Christmas Chase, formerly the Lexus.
Sizing John – which made a winning return to action with a brilliant display in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown earlier this month – is second favourite behind Yorkhill in the ante-post market as trainer Jessica Harrington is yet to confirm her Gold Cup winner for the Foxrock contest.
TARGET
Willie Mullins recently earmarked this event as a likely comeback target for dual Cheltenham Festival hero Yorkhill (right, with Ruby Walsh up) and the champion trainer could also call upon dual Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Djakadam and Killultagh Vic, which has been on the sidelines for almost two years.
Last year’s winner Outlander is one of six contenders for Gordon Elliott along with A Toi Phil, Ball D’Arc, Empire Of Dirt, Lord Scoundrel and Mala Beach.
Other contenders include Noel Meade’s Disko, Valseur Lido from Henry de Bromhead’s yard and the Joseph O’Brien-trained Edwulf, which has not been seen since collapsing at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Apple’s Jade could face up to eight rivals in the Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle on the same afternoon.
Elliott’s brilliant mare claimed her sixth Grade One success when dominating her rivals in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse earlier this month and is set to step up to three miles for the first time in her career in a bid to add to her top-level tally over the festive period.
Elliott also has Lieutenant Colonel and Prince Of Scars, the winners of this event in 2014 and 2015. Mullins claimed the prize for a third time with Vroum Vroum Mag last year and his potential team is made up of Killultagh Vic, Nichols Canyon, Bapaume and Augusta Kate.
Harrington’s former Champion Hurdle winner Jezki and Coral Cup-winning stablemate Supasundae complete the entries.
As for the final day of action at Dublin’s premier track, the Mullins-trained Faugheen will face a maximum of five rivals if he takes up his entry in the Ryanair Hurdle.
The 2015 Champion Hurdle hero appeared to have lost none of his dash when he made a spectacular return from over two-and-a-half years off the track in last month’s Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown. He has twice won the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, but trainer Willie Mullins is keen to keep his charge on home soil next week.
The Rich Ricci-owned chestnut will be a prohibitively priced favourite to add to his tally of eight Grade One wins in the feature event on the final day of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival.
LEGENDARY
Mullins, who won this race four times with the legendary Hurricane Fly, could also saddle Cilaos Emery, which was fourth on his reappearance in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse.
His main rival for the champion trainer’s title, Elliott, has confirmed Campeador, Mick Jazz and The Game Changer, while Ch’tibello is a potential British challenger for Dan Skelton.
The other Grade One prize on offer is the Neville Hotels Novice Chase over three miles. Mullins has four contenders in Al Boum Photo, Arbre De Vie, Bon Papa and Rathvinden.
Elliott’s eight-strong team is made up of Death Duty, Dounikos, Jury Duty, Mossback, The Storyteller, Tombstone, Shattered Love and Dinaria Des Obeaux.
Other possibles include Henry de Bromhead’s Monalee and The West’s Awake from Edward O’Grady’s yard.