Leopardstown Christmas Festival: Gordon Elliott's key contenders

Mighty Potter is going to contest the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse this weekend. Three Stripe Life is about to step up to the highest level over fences. Minella Crooner is bound for the three-mile Neville Hotels Novices Chase. Gerri Colombe is also in the mix for that Grade One heat. Absolute Notions was a 25-1 winner in a Punchestown bumper on his debut. He is one of several Elliott-trained entries for Leopardstown’s Future Champions Noviced Hurdle. Listowel winner Amir Kabir, Cork scorer Irish Point and Imagine are also going there. Pied Piper is Elliott's chief hope for Matheson Hurdy Hiltle on December 28.

25 horses are on the early sheet for the €100,000 Grade 1 Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase on opening day of Leopardstown Christmas Festival. Willie Mullins has nine entries. Mighty Potter, Hollow Games and Three Stripe Life are among Elliott's team of five. Enniskerry, Joseph O'Brien’s Banbridge and Noel Meade's Highland Charge are also on early list.

Day two of Leopardstown Christmas Festival is Paddy Power Chase Day on Tuesday, December 27.

€200,000 Grade B Paddy Power Chase (Handicap) on the second day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. 59 horses have been entered. Willie Mullins has 12 entries. Gordon Elliott has 11 entries, Noel Meade has Farceur Du Large and Henry de Bromhead has Ain’t That A Shame and Gabbys Cross entered respectively. Final Orders is bidding to extend his recent winning run for Gavin Cromwell. Lord Accord is entered by Neil Mulholland. Ben Case has entered Fern Hill.

The Paddy's Rewards Club Chase is the first of two Grade 1 races on the second day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. Willie Mullins tops the lot with five entries. Gordon Elliott has three entries, Andy Dufresne, Riviere D’etel and Battleoverdoyen. Joseph O'Brien, Pat Fahy and Gavin Cromwell have entered Darasso, Dunvegan and Jeremys Flame respectively.

The Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle is the first Grade 1 hurdle race of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. Willie Mullins won the race in 2008 and has won five of last seven renewals. Gordon Elliott won in 2019 with Abacadabras. American Mike, Absolute Notions, Itswhatunitesus and Irish Point are among 19 entries from Closutton.

Gordon Elliott's Galvin won the 2021 renewal of the Grade 1 Savills Chase. Willie Mullins' Galopin Des Champs and Envoi Allen are also in the running. Joseph O'Brien's entry is for Joseph D'oudairies and Busselton. Mouse Morris' entry for French Dynamite is also there.

This year's Christmas Hurdle will be run in the memory of Jack de Bromhead. Willie Mullins has seven of the 22 entries. Gordon Elliott has five entries, including Commander Of Fleet, Sire Du Berlais and Queens Brook.

Willie Mullins has made five entries in the Grade 1 Matheson Hurdle. Nicky Henderson has 13 entries. Constitution Hill is the favourite. Gordon Elliott has four entries with Pied Piper and Fil Dor among them.

Gordon Elliott's horses are among the entries for the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown Christmas Festival. Willie Mullins has put nine horses in the race. Darrens Hope has been entered by Bob Murphy. Thedevilscoachman and Idas Boy are there for Noel Meade. Leopardtown Christmas festival starts on St Stephen's Day. The National Hunt track has had a number of improvements made to improve the running conditions. Watering will continue through the festival. It is currently good to yielding, yielding in places.