Leopardstown Christmas Festival: odds for days 1 and 2

Christmas always brings with it plenty of cheer for racing enthusiasts as high-class racing is rolled out day-after-day. Leopardstown kicks off its Christmas Festival on St Stephen’s day and runs until 29 December.

Following today’s forfeit stages for the first two days of the meeting, see below the latest Paddy Power odds and bet just €5 to get €30 in free bets to spend on the action.

Long Distance Novice Chase, 2.20 Leopardstown, Thursday 26 December

Impaire Et Passe made a promising start to his chasing career at Fairyhouse last month winning by an impressive 12 lengths, while Gordon Elliott’s Croke Park emerged a surprise winner of the Grade 1 Drinmore Novices’ Chase at Fairyhouse. Better Days Ahead was impressive when landing a beginners chase at Navan back in November. The top three in the market also hold entries in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick.

Paddy Power odds: 6-5 Impaire Et Passe, 11-4 Croke Park, 4 Better Days Ahead, 13-2 Stellar Story, 8 Search For Glory, 12 Buddy One, 14 High Class Hero, 20 Waterford Whispers, 25 Quai De Bourbon

Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase, 1.10 Leopardstown, Friday 27 December

Gaelic Warrior got the better of Found A Fifty by eight-and-a-half lengths in the Arkle at Cheltenham in March and the two may reoppose here, while last year’s Champion Chase winner Captain Guinness is also in the mix. Marine Nationale made a promising comeback from injury to finish second at Naas last month and connections feel he should improve for that run. Banbridge is an intended runner in the King George at Kempton Park.

Paddy Power odds: 11-10 Gaelic Warrior, 9-4 Found A Fifty, 6 Marine Nationale, 10 Banbridge, Captain Guinness, Dinoblue, 20 Gentleman De Mee, Solness, 25 Blue Lord, 66 Visionarian, 150 Senecia

Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, 1.45 Leopardstown, Friday 27 December

Salvator Mundi was a 62-length winner of a maiden hurdle in Tipperary in May and could make a return here for Willie Mullins. Bleu De Vassy was impressive winning a Grade 3 hurdle at Navan last month for Gordon Elliott although stable companion Romeo Coolio was a beaten favourite last time. They also hold entries in the Lawlor’s Of Naas in January. Ballygunner Castle showed great resolve to overcome being hampered by a loose horse to win a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Paddy Power odds: 7-4 Salvator Mundi, 3 Bleu De Vassy, 4 Romeo Coolio, 7 Ballygunner Castle, 8 Karniquet, 10 Karafon, 14 Casheldale Lad, 16 Sea Of Sands, The Yellow Clay, 25 Gaucher, 33 Plontier, 100 bar

Paddy Power Chase, 3.00 Leopardstown, Friday 27 December

Winner of this race last year, Meetingofthewaters, finished 7th in the Grand National at Aintree in April and has been off the track since, he also holds an entry in a handicap hurdle at Leopardstown. Nick Rockett, also trained by Mullins, is among market leaders while Three Card Brag ran well on his seasonal return to finish third.

Paddy Power odds: 7 Meetingofthewaters, 8 Nick Rockett, Three Card Brag, 12 Macdermott, Panda Boy, Pinkerton, 14 Hgranca De Thaix, Perceval Legallois, 16 Desertmore House, Horantzau D’Airy, Spanish Harlem, 20 bar