It’s the final day of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival and, you guessed it, I’ve got a couple of tips for the occasion.
Starting with Gordon Elliott’s THREE STRIPE LIFE at 2/1 for the G1 novice chase over three miles at 1.45.
Our current favourite is second-season novice Gaillard Du Mesnil, who boasts placed form in multiple Grade Ones including the Brown Advisory at the Festival in March. He’s the rightful favourite, but has a habit of finding one or two better so is well worth taking on.
Especially when one of his rivals is the exciting Three Stripe Life, who’s always been held in very high regard by the team at Cullentra.
The six-year-old placed behind Sir Gerhard in the Ballymore in March before winning a Grade One at Aintree’s Grand National and then placing behind State Man at the Punchestown Festival.
His subsequent chase debut at Naas in the middle of November was impressive, and he was travelling sweetly in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse a few weeks ago before a bad mistake caused his saddle to slip, Davy Russell to lose his irons and the horse to be pulled up.
I’m expecting Three Stripe Life to improve for the step up to three miles, and reckon he can cause the favourite to have to settle for the places once again.
For my next and final tip, I’m looking at the bumper at 3.25.
On paper at least, this is a red-hot contest with Ireland’s top trainers Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott saddling multiple of their most-fancied bumper horses – and it’s one for the latter that takes my fancy.
KING OF KINGSFIELD joined Elliott’s yard with a mega reputation and was all the rage ahead of his debut in Down Royal in early November – a race the trainer has won with the likes of Sir Gerhard and American Mike in recent years.
He won, but the general consensus at the time was that he was workmanlike. A fair enough assessment given the hype behind him, but dare I say I’m yet to be as impressed by a bumper horse this season.
The extremely valuable 7lb claimer Harry Swan takes the ride, and despite the obvious potential of many of his rivals – and the fact that Jamie Codd has seemingly picked stablemate Caldwell Potter – I think he has a great chance.
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