RACING POST NAP
15:00 Leopardstown
The showpiece race of the day and a real market to be laid down for the Cheltenham Gold
Cup by landing this valuable prize. Noel Meade’s Road to Respect looks primed to strike in this one. Fourth in the gold cup at last year’s festival but landed two grade 1s beforehand and is clearly capable at this level. He will be spot on for this following his seasonal reappearance and this track will suit him to a tee with Sean Flanagan in the saddle he is the confident pick. The obvious main danger to the selection is the new pretender to the gold cup throne, Presenting Percy, but this is his seasonal debut and he will likely need the run with all his focus being towards Cheltenham in March.
ROAD TO RESPECT (WIN) – NAP
13:50 Leopardstown
A spectacular way to end the year in Ireland with the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown. The field has lessened slightly as a spectacle because of the absence of Supasundae but still promises to be a blockbuster race with Apples Jade taking on Cracking Smart and the legendary Faugheen.
All attention will be on Gordon Elliott’s star mare Apples Jade who will be trying to see if she’s up to the task of challenging for the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham, but she has a real contender to face in the shape of the Willie Mullins superstar and it is the latter who gets the nod here. The machine has a sublime record over 3m and subsequently beat last year’s Stayers Hurdle winner Penhill by 13 lengths. That form looks rock solid here and his Morgiana tune-up run should have him spot on for this.
FAUGHEEN (WIN)
Leopardstown:
12:10 Atypical (WIN)
12:45 Sire Du Berlais (WIN)
13:20 Bacardys (E/W)
13:50 Faugheen (WIN)*
14:25 Khudha (E/W)
15:00 Road To Respect (WIN) – NAP
15:35 General Counsel (WIN)
Catterick:
12:25 Another Theatre (WIN)
13:00 The Dawn Man (E/W)
13:35 Speedy Cargo (E/W)
14:05 Troo Blue (E/W)
14:40 Notonebuttwo (WIN)
15:15 Nemean Lion (WIN)
Leicester
12:50 Accordingtogino (WIN)
13:25 Bright Forecast (WIN)
13:55 Copper West (E/W)
14:30 Amour Du Nuit (WIN)
15:05 Percy Street (E/W)
15:40 By Rail (WIN)
Limerick
12:00 Melly And Me (WIN)
12:30 Redhotfillypeppers (WIN)
13:05 Undressed (WIN)
13:40 Espoir D’Allen (WIN)
14:10 Annamix (WIN)
14:45 it’s A Long Story (E/W)
15:20 My Forever Friend (E/W)
15:50 Cobbler’s Way (E/W)
Lingfield
11:35 Whinging Willie (WIN)
12:05 Orchid Killer (E/W)
12:40 Enchanting Man (WIN)
13:15 Paddy A (E/W)
13:45 Let RIP (E/W)
14:20 Laubali (WIN)
14:55 Angelito (E/W)
15:30 New Rich (WIN)
