Aspire Tower and Notebook lit up the Leopardstown Christmas Festival on the opening day and we're entitled to expect more fireworks, with one particular horse taking centre stage.
12.05pm Paddy Power Maiden Hurdle
Millswyn brings strong flat form to the party. His meticulous trainer will likely have him well schooled for this engagement. Saint D'oroux gets a drop in grade here. His experience should be an asset in such a big field.
Selection: Millswyn 3/1
12.35pm Paddy Power Beginners Chase
A roasting hot race for the grade. City Island lacks the obvious physical scope for chasing, but does possess have impeccable hurdling technique. If he can transfer those skills, a bright future beckons. Melon is a hard horse to get right. He did run, and jump, well in the face of a stiff task on chasing bow in Navan.
Selection: City Island 7/4
1.15pm Paddy's Rewards Club Chase
Expect the patrons to be five deep around the parade ring for the return of the most exciting horse in training. Chacun Pour Soi gave us a tantalising glimpse at greatness in a couple of wins last season. It will be disappointing if he can't readily dispatch some limited, if worthy, opposition. Great Field looked more tractable on his comeback in Cork. If avoiding clumsy errors, he can chase Chacun home.
Selection: Chacun Pour Soi 2/5
1.45pm Paddy Power Novice Hurdle
Easywork won't run here. That still leaves us with three credible contenders. Abacadabras sauntered up to Envoi Allen in Fairyhouse. He couldn't get past, him but there's no shame in that. He might just have too many gears for the opposition here. Blue Sari made heavy weather of winning on hurdles debut but is better than that, and commands obvious respect.
Selection: Abacadabras 8/13
2.20pm Paddy Power handicap Hurdle
The Moyglass Flyer, despite some indifferent jumping, ran well above market expectations on his seasonal comeback in Navan and should improve plenty. His jumping will be under pressure in this big field and is just too well handicapped to ignore.
Selection: The Moyglass Flyer 7/1
2.55pm Paddy Power Chase
Whisperinthebreeze paid the price for an overly aggressive ride in Navan last time, but remains a handicapper of potential. The going should be similar to when he dominated a race at this track in February. Vieux Morvan lacks a recent run. He'll surely be straight for such a valuable prize though. Off only one pound higher than when second in this race last year, and with a talented conditional on board, he's feared most.
Selection: Whisperinthebreeze 22/1
3.30pm Paddy Power INH Flat Race
Appreciate It ran well on bumper debut in Fairyhouse. As an ex pointer this step up in trip should help. Hopefully he can settle better than on his last start. Ragnar Lodbrok comes her off the back of a promising debut. He's feared most.
Selection: Appreciate It 5/2
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