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Horses on the gallops at the Launch of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival at Jessica Harrington's yard. Morgan Treacy/INPHO

3 big races to watch on Day 1 of Leopardstown's Christmas Festival

It’s an exciting line-up, as a big event in the Irish racing calendar gets underway.

2.20pm - The Racing Post Novice Chase 

THE FEATURE RACE takes place at 14.20. It should be an intriguing contest, with Willie Mullins triumphing for the past two years with Douvan and Min respectively.

Footpad (8/11) could consequently make it three-in-a-row for the 61-year-old racehorse trainer.

However, there is strong competition, with Death Duty, who has an unbeaten chasing record, also highly fancied at 6/4.

1.15 pm – Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle 

Meath-based Gavin Cromwell’s Espoir D’allen (1/3) looks in strong contention here.

Winner of the Grade 3 company at Fairyhouse, he has been backed by many to retain his unbeaten record at Leopardstown today.

His biggest rival might be Gordon Elliott’s Mitchouka (10/3), who lost out to Espoir D’allen at the Fairyhouse Grade 3.

Meanwhile, Tenth Amendment (50/1) and Minnie Dahill (80/1) are among the rank outsiders here.

12.15pm - Horse & Jockey Hotel Maiden Hurdle 

One of the less predictable races to call, Manamite has an excellent recent record and is expected to be in contention with odds of 11/4.

At 5/4, the Margaret Mullins-owned Debuchet (5/4) is also likely to be in the frame.

And again, this is another race Willie Mullins could have a big say in. The experienced trainer has a typically excellent record in the race, and could well figure again with his horse, Antey, given odds of 3/1.

The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):

’90% of trainers and staff are broke’ – Robbie McNamara says horse racing needs to change>

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    Mute The Guru
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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:37 PM

    What’s with all the hate for the author? Get a life lads

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    Mute John O'Reilly
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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:39 PM

    Fight me

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    Mute Hightower
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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:52 PM

    Poor article but leave the man alone, he’s just trying to put stew on the table like the rest of us

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    Mute John O'Reilly
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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:54 PM

    That’s rich coming from you Hightower after I seen you commenting racist jokes on an article only last night

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    Mute Hightower
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    Jul 26th 2016, 2:01 PM

    After you saw, please spell it right John it’s my biggest peeve.

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    Jul 26th 2016, 2:04 PM

    Ah shut up ya meath p***k

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    Mute Bleep12345
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    Jul 26th 2016, 3:21 PM

    Anything a better than a Paul Fennessy article though.

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    Mute Bleep12345
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    Jul 26th 2016, 4:46 PM

    Hate????
    I can read Eoin casually enough and his articles are generally nice to read. I find the other journalists articles are often poor opinion pieces that are badly researched. I can also tell it’s his piece after a few sentences, and I don’t enjoy reading his style of writing either.
    I’ve also seen him argue with posters in the comments section when they don’t agree with his piece which looks sloppy to me. He doesn’t like criticism.

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    Mute Figo murphy
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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:35 PM

    Wow, ease up lads! I thought it was an interesting piece.

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    Mute smithers
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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:29 PM

    Its not like hes been playing there for a year now oh wait

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    Mute John
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    Jul 26th 2016, 2:39 PM

    “Footballer turns out for club” would be a better headline

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    Mute EoinM
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    Jul 26th 2016, 8:50 PM

    ‘Keyboard Warrior Who’s Never Written An Article In His Life Thinks He Can Act Hard’ would be a good one for you no?

    If you’ve nothing nice to say, say nothing.

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    Mute Mark Nugent
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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:20 PM

    Eoin if your where any good at your job you’d know that it’s his agents greedy fee that’s holding up the transfer, not pogba, not Utd , and not Woodward .

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    Mute Bleep12345
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    Jul 27th 2016, 8:02 AM

    I thought ‘mummy’ was the agent for her three boys.

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    Jul 26th 2016, 3:26 PM

    I hope United pull out of this saga soon. Being held to a ransom by an agent is embarrassing for the club. And not to mention the fee for a player who clearly wants to play elsewhere. Surely there is better value in the market.

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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:59 PM

    Poor

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    Jul 26th 2016, 9:27 PM

    Which Guinea , there’s 3 !

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