Leopardstown Tips for Satuday 27th December - The Four Best Bets from Ireland

Last Updated on 26/12/2025 by Andy Clark

The Leopardstown Christmas Festival continues on Saturday with the second day of top-class jumps racing, where seven more races head to post throughout the afternoon at the Foxrock venue.

The card is headed by two Grade One races where there will be some Cheltenham Festival aspirations up for grabs.

Leopardstown Tips for Saturday

Irish broadcaster RTE2 will have the pick of the action live on TV, including both Grade One races and we take a look at the best of Saturday’s Irish racing action. The likes of Majborough, Marine National and exciting prospect Le Divin Enfant make it a must-see card on Saturday.

1:12 Leopardstown – Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) 2m1f

Irish Arkle winner MAJBOROUGH (15/8) might be worth chancing to bounce back to winning form, having met with a narrow defeat behind reopposing Found A Fifty in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork.

Willie Mullins’ charge struck over C&D last February, having previously won on his chase debut at Fairyhouse, and he added to his tally to take his score over fences to three from four when landing another Grade One at Punchestown.

He didn’t jump his best when beaten at Cork latest, but given that was his first run of the season, he is entitled to improve past Gordon Elliott’s charge, who had had the benefit of race-fitness and turned in a career-best. He showed a tendency to jump to his left at Cork, so going back this way round will surely assist and his race was all but ended by a serious error two fences out, although he did stick well to his guns, and he ultimately wasn’t beaten all that far.

Jumping does remain a slight concern, but if he can keep errors to a minimum, he should make his presence felt. On his reappearance, he is likely to go close.

1:47 Leopardstown – Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+) 2m

SKYLIGHT HUSTLE (4/1) may have been beaten on his hurdles debut at Gowran Park in November, but Henry de Bromhead’s charge might have found heavy ground against him and on better ground at Fairyhouse, the Jukebox Jury gelding turned in an impressive performance to get off the mark with a wide-margin victory over Casterly Rock.

That bare form might not be anything special, but he was a facile winner who likely has plenty more to give, and he can keep improving. He might ideally be suited by further, given he is a point-to-point winner, but he set out to make all at Fairyhouse, and he’ll face plenty of competition for the lead in what is likely to be a strongly-run race, so that proven stamina for further could be an asset.

Gordon Elliot and Willie Mullins have had this race between them in recent years, but Henry de Bromhead did win this with Sizing John, and he could break the big two’s monopoly in this race.

2:22 Leopardstown – National Maternity Hospital Foundation Handicap Hurdle (4yo+) 2m

Consistent BALKO D’ANGE (4/1) ought to be in the mix again, and Philip Fenton’s charge can make his presence felt in a competitive handicap contest.

The Balko gelding won a Listed handicap hurdle at Limerick last December, and although he failed to add to his tally until most recently going in again at Navan, he turned in largely good performances in defeat. His latest victory came last month when beating Ragmans Corner by three lengths, scoring readily, and while that form is nothing out of the ordinary, he remains capable of another big performance.

Softer ground seems to bring out the best in him, so these conditions shouldn’t prove too much of an issue unless drying out significantly; more worrying is the 7lbs rise in the weights for his last win, which in turn demands a career- best from the five-year-old in a more competitive contest.

But, given his consistent profile, he looks worth chancing he can raise his game again and post another big run.

3:00 Leopardstown – Paddy Power Chase (Extended Handicap Chase) (Listed Race) (5yo+ 0-150) 3m½f

SA MAJESTE (12/1) ought to appreciate stepping back up in trip, and Willie Mullins’ charge can land this competitive handicap chase to close out RTE2’s TV action.

The Top Trip gelding won twice over fences last term from six starts, scoring at Tipperary and Fairyhouse before posting a very gallant third at the Cheltenham Festival in the Kim Muir and a bad mistake mid-race probably did for his chances in the Irish Grand National.

He probably needed the run on his reappearance at Punchestown last month, while that race did come over a trip short of his best, so all things considered, his eventual fourth-placed finish might not have been a bad effort and he’s entitled to come on for the run, while he could improve back over a more suitable distance.

The third home in that race boosted the form by winning a Listed chase next time out, and racing off the same mark here, he could give a good account of himself with Mark Walsh taking over the ride.