Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle
Grade 1, Leopardstown
€100,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
3m, Class 1  
Saturday 28th December 2024

BetZone

Noble Yeats is on course for a Christmas reappearance, as Emmet Mullins once again has his sights set on Aintree for his Grand National hero. 

The nine-year-old campaigned exclusively over hurdles prior to the Grand National last season, returning at Limerick over the Christmas period before winning the Cleeve Hurdle and going on to run in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

A fourth shot at the Liverpool showpiece is the ultimate aim for the season and there is a possibility he could follow a similar path this term, with Leopardstown’s Grade One Christmas Hurdle just one of the options mentioned by Mullins as a possible starting point for his long-time stable star. 

Mullins said: “He’s back in full work and we have no immediate plans, but I’m sure he will be out over Christmas. 

“There are a couple of options. He could go to the three-mile Grade One over hurdles at Leopardstown at Christmas, or he could take in a chase race, there’s a couple of conditions chases around at that time. 

“I know he was beat last year at Christmas over hurdles, but it seemed to work well enough and we’ll be hopefully going back to Aintree for another crack at the Grand National. 

“It’s horses for courses and he’s been round there three times in the National, won one and completed all three times – so with a bit of luck on his side, hopefully he can do it again.”

Free Racing Tips

Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle
3m , Race Value: €100,000, Grade 1
6 ran
Going: Heavy

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Irish Point 5 11-10 Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy EvF
2 11 Asterion Forlonge 9 11-10 W P Mullins Paul Townend 6/1
3 ½ Ballyadam 8 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 18/1
4 2 Beacon Edge 9 11-10 Gordon Elliott Sam Ewing 40/1
5 6½ Home By The Lee 8 11-10 Joseph O'Brien J J Slevin 9/4
PU Buddy One 6 11-10 Paul John Gilligan Jack G Gilligan 10/1

Boylesports