Christmas Hurdle and Savills Chase in Leopardstown

Leopardstown, Wednesday, 28 December: The Christmas Festival continues today in Leopardstown with two more classic tests.

In the Christmas Hurdle (4th race/14.45/150,000 Euro/4827m) last year`s performances speak in favour of Flooring Porter (Danny Mullins). Trained by Gavin Cromwell, the seven-year-old won the fixture two years ago and finished second the following year. He currently ran in the Lismullen Hurdle (Group 2) and finished fourth. Joseph O`Brien`s Home By The Lee (J Slevin) won easily by two lengths from Bob Olinger (Rachael Blackmore) and Ashdale Bob (Keith Donoghue) and behind Flooring Porter were Sire Du Berlais (Mark Walsh), Commander Of Fleet (Sam Ewing) and Zanahiyr (Jack Kennedy). So the seven first-timers meet again.

The Savills Chase (5th race/15.20pm/200,000 euros/4827m) sees the 2021, 2020 and 2018 winners A Plus Tard (Rachael Blackmore), Galvin (Sam Ewing) and Kemboy (Paul Townend) come to the wire. The trio also finished in the top three places twelve months ago. A Plus Tard made his comeback after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup (Group 1) at Haydock and did not get over the jumps without an accident. Kemboy and Galvin were currently second and fourth in Down Royal`s Champion Chase (Group 1). Conflated (Jack Kennedy) was third between the two. Here, the Elliott protégé won the Irish Gold Cup (Group 1) in February against Kemboy, among others.