Home By Christmas

LEOPARDSTOWN’S Christmas Festival is likely to be the next port of call for Home By The Lee following his surprise victory in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan.

Joseph O’brien’s sevenyear-old was widely unconsidered at 28-1 for the Lismullen earlier this month, but belied those odds to beat the likes of Bob Olinger and Flooring Porter to Grade Two honours.

O’brien (inset) said: “I don’t think it was a huge surprise to us. He was only beaten seven and a half lengths in the Stayers’ Hurdle last season, and he was second in the good hurdle in Gowran Park before that.”

Home By The Lee could meet Bob Olinger and Flooring Porter once more in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown over the festive period.

O’brien added: “That (Leopardstown) would be the logical next stepping-stone for him.”