Paul Ferguson has one selection for us on Thursday; Voix des Tiep in the Leopardstown 2.25. Compare odds and bet.
Providing the course passes a 7:30am inspection, Leopardstown stages a top-class card on Thursday, with the re-match between Apple’s Jade and Nichols Canyon just one particular highlight.
The race formerly known as the ‘Lexus’ – now the Leopardstown Christmas Chase – is arguably the most fascinating contest of the festive period, with the enigmatic Yorkhill returning to action. He tries 3m for the first time since winning a four-year-old maiden point at Tattersalls Farm in December 2014. Regular readers of my work will know that I hold this horse in the very highest regard – natural ability wise, he is as good as any horse in training for me, but he does have his obvious flaws – and I am intrigued as to how he fares this afternoon.
The seven-year-old will need to settle better than he did in any of his four starts last season if he is to last home and he only scraped home in a Grade 3 here 11 months ago. He also faces a notable rival in the shape of Gold Cup winner Sizing John, who looked better than ever when winning the John Durkan earlier in the month and he is very much the one to beat here, with that run under his belt. Paul Townend has only ridden Yorkhill once in public, when he was almost uncontrollable at Aintree – still won a Grade 1 novice hurdle – and I can’t wait to see how this race pans out. It is by no means just a two-horse race either and the depth of quality among the 12 runners will hopefully ensure that we can draw some post-race conclusions.
As for the day’s selection, I’m siding with another Willie Mullins-trained horse, in the shape of Voix des Tiep (2:25) in what looks a really strong bumper, on paper.
Mullins saddled the bumper winner at the track on both Tuesday and Wednesday, and this five-year-old looked a sure-fire future winner when chasing home Someday at this track back in February. Beaten just half-a-length, the winner went on to finish fifth in Grade 1 company and also finished runner-up in a strong maiden hurdle at Naas last month.
There are several nicely bred / likely types in opposition here, but he certainly sets a very decent standard and, should he reproduce that debut effort – you would hope he might better it – it will take a good one to lower his colours.
Thursday’s selection:
2:25 Leopardstown – Voix des Tiep; 1/1 PaddyPower
Compare all today’s horse racing odds and bet at the best prices
NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
