2023 Christmas Hurdle Tips

Home By The Lee is an eight-year-old with plenty of ability, with the horse finishing third out of five runners at Navan last time out. Joseph O’Brien’s runner was sent off at 7/2 for this contest when running home behind Bob Olinger and Zanahiyr, with not much between the front three in the betting and that was over two miles and four furlongs on heavy ground.

Irish Point has scored three consecutive wins and there was a recent win at Down Royal in November, with the 5/6 favourite winning the Bottlegreen Hurdle over two miles and one furlong. Interestingly, there were three fences omitted in that run when triumphing against Magical Zoe, with the horse having previously been pulled up at Aintree Racecourse.

Sir Gerhard was a faller in his previous encounter, with that happening at Naas in November and there was a failure before this when being pulled up at Punchestown. There have been more misses than hits in the past few years, although the horse boasts obvious class and has previously enjoyed some notable successes.

Absolute Notions is a five-year-old who could yet edge the competition, with Gordon Elliott-trained charge having landed a success last time out. This was a facile success at Fairyhouse after being pulled up at Aintree although we like the way that the horse performed at Leopardstown back in February and a repeat performance could be on the cards here.

Bet on Irish Christmas Hurdle 2020

This Leopardstown race is a massive pointer when it comes to the Stayers’ Hurdle at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, with this being a Grade 1 racing encounter in its own right, with no more than sixteen runners lining up for this extravaganza.

Can Sire Du Berlais Claim Christmas Victory?

Sire Du Berlais is going to line up for Gordon Elliott and the trainer has won the past three Christmas Hurdles at Leopardstown Racecourse, with Apple’s Jade having smashed home a hat-trick of consecutive titles, with the mare achieving legendary status although there will be her stablemates running for Gigginstown this year.

Sire Du Berlais will actually run in the JP McManus colours and the eight-year-old recently won the Lismullen Hurdle over two miles four furlongs on soft to heavy ground, with this horse triumphing in early November and that should give him plenty of prep time for this run.

However, Elliott also has the Gigginstown challenger in the form of Fury Road and the six-year-old enjoyed a facile victory in a Grade 2 race at Punchestown when being sent off as the odds-on favourite, with potentially more to come from the horse.

Ronald Pump and The World’s End Also Among Christmas Hurdle Favourites

Ronald Pump surprised everyone when nearly claiming victory in the Stayers’ Hurdle at a big price and the horse is now considered among the leading Irish contenders when it comes to this division, with Matthew J Smith having a horse with bags of stamina and some recent performances have been eye-catching.

Indeed, Ronald Pump has excellent form when you consider that the horse only finished half a length behind Honeysuckle last time out and the champion mare is clearly a runner to be respected.

The World’s End has struggled to make an impact in his last two races, with the nine-year-old having won the Marsh Hurdle in Ascot in December 2019 although the horse has been pulled up on his past two renewals and there continues to be doubts over his fitness.