Kempton, 2pm – Kauto Star Novices’ Chase
A mouthwatering 90 minutes of St Stephen’s Day racing kicks off with the first part of Kempton’s Grade 1 triple-header.
While the field might not boast the same star appeal as later races on the card, you can be sure that you’ll be hearing about a handful of these horses again between now and Cheltenham.
Colin Tizzard’s Native River and Nick Williams’ Tea for Two are likely to go off at the head of the market and, on recent form, it is the former who looks to have the slight edge.
Kempton, 2.35pm – williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle
If you don’t like watching Faugheen run, we’re pretty sure you don’t like horse racing.
After starting his career with a perfect 10 straight wins — including this race and the Champion Hurdles at both Cheltenham and Punchestown — Willie Mullins’ superstar suffered a rather unexpected reverse when well beaten by stablemate Nichols Canyon in the Morgiana.
There’s nothing of Faugheen’s quality in the Christmas Hurdle field, although draw a line through his disappointing Cheltenham run and The New One still deserves serious respect. Old Guard and Hargam have already met this season, with the former taking the International Hurdle a fortnight ago.
Leopardstown, 2.55pm – Racing Post Novice Chase
Once the Christmas Hurdle is in the books, it’s straight back over to Leopardstown for the feature race on day one.
It’s a small field with only four runners going to post for the Racing Post Novice Chase but everyone at the Dublin track will want to catch a glimpse of Douvan.
The newest machine out of the Willie Mullins’ yard destroyed all novice company over hurdles last season and now turns his attention to bigger obstacles with a tilt at the Arkle in March his most likely route.
Sizing John and Ttebbob are both horses on the up but expect Douvan to go off a very short-priced favourite.
Kempton, 3.10pm – William Hill King George VI Chase
As always on St Stephen’s Day, the pick of the day’s racing is at Kempton where a gloriously deep field lines up for the King George. Maybe throw in the absent Djakadam and Don Poli, and this is as close as you’re likely to get to a Gold Cup dress rehearsal.
In Don Cossack and Vautour, Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins saddle the leading two contenders in the betting but the home team, led by Betfair winner Cue Card, Hennessy winner Smad Place and the hat-trick chasing Silviniaco Conti are no shrinking violets.
We’re practically guaranteed a Christmas cracker, no matter how the race unfolds.
N.B. This piece has been updated after racing in Limerick for today was cancelled due to bad weather.
Nothing ever said for Sean o brien only playing the last game, where he paved the way for the backs to play…. Huge tackle count (over 15) and the amount of rucks he hit! The limelight was taken from him.
Jaysus, enough already about the Lions. Seriously.
Don’t think anybody but Sky are really bothered
Agree it’s a joke on this site . Are the score sponsored by HSBC or something ? Compare this saturation to coverage of dub hurlers or dan Martin yesterday , 1 of those stories to every 4 lions stories . Ye will lose readers lads
Maybe just maybe the journal checks their traffic to see what’s popular with their clients.
The Leinster hurling final was played in a half empty stadium.
There was never a moment when the lions would lose to that Australian team over the series!
Yep great to win series after so many failed attempts! But,we all know that was one worse Aussie teams ever under Deans!
This is not negative nelly talk,I guarantee lions will get creamed by all-blacks in next series,the all blacks will be on a fu*king mission to beat lions!!
I cannot understand the hype over the lions. It is a sky sports hyped event. The best of four European teams with a combined population of 70 million barely beat one country with a population of 23 million. Rugby union is the fourth most popular sport in Australia. It is first most popular in wales, second in Scotland and England, fourth in Ireland and yet our combined efforts barely got us across the line. BBC gave gatland manager if the year, for what exactly? My granny would have led the lions to a series win.
Even worse is the outcry of our media when BOD was dropped. Seriously, BOD who was the greatest player of our time is well past his best and played extremely poor in the second test. You don’t pick players on reputation and past events, Let’s just get over it.
Someone above made a comment on Leinster hurling final being played in a half empty stadium. We can all cherry pick games to suit an argument. What does the AIL average for games? Cue, most Munster and Leinster fans googling AIL to see what it stands for. The last 5 all Ireland hurling finals produced levels of commitment and skills you won’t see on a rugby pitch in a million years.
In fairness, Sextons kick over the top and chase down was the moment when the Lions took the initiative in the 3rd test.