Who To Follow At Leopardstown On Boxing Day - 26/12/21

Leopardstown 14:20

Ferny Hollow

Paul Townend

W P Mullins

Age: 6

Weight: 12-0

OR: N/A

Days: 21

One of our best bets of the day at Leopardstown comes in the feature race of the day with the Grade One Racing Post Novice Chase set to be a cracker.

We can't get past the superstar Ferny Hollow that has been electric for Willie Mullins, although having his problems last season he looks back to his best.

Being a very smart bumper horse, albeit taking some time to start winning, he landed the Cheltenham Champion Bumper in 2020, seeing off stablemate and superstar Appreciate It.

Sent hurdling last term, he was only seen once before his season got cut short and he was seen beating the mighty Bob Olinger over two miles at Gowran Park.

Not seen since then, he was sent chasing by Mullins on his seasonal debut this term and having learnt on the job his last four fences were jumped brilliantly and he showed some good pace to settle the race late on.

He will be sure to improve on that run for fitness and quality and although giving 13lb away to the second favourite, if as good as we think he is, he should win.

Willie Mullins aswell does well at this Leopardstown meeting and he is setting his stall out on the first day this year with a host of big names running.

His best chance of the day comes in the feature event of the afternoon with Ferny Hollow looking to land the second Grade One of his career in the two mile Novice Chase.

Other big shouts for the Closutton Maestro come from, Hercule Du Seuil in the first, Champion Bumper winner Sir Gerhard in the second, Fan Des Blues in the Handicap Chase and in the last he gives a debut to the potential superstar Facile Vega.

Mullins heads into the meeting in remarkable form, running at a strike rate of 46% for the last few weeks, managing to land 11 winners fro, 24 runners.

Apart from Paul Townend, who looks a very obvious shout to follow off the back of Willie's runners, we also think Davy Russell could have a good day with Gordon fielding some nice horses.

His best chance of the day comes in the Grade Two Juvenile Hurdle with Fil Dor looking to keep his unbeaten record in tact and enhance his claims for the Grade One Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.

Another nice chance for Russell comes in the two mile maiden hurdle with Ashtree Meadow looking to strengthen to form line of his latest third behind Gringo D'Aubrelle and Adamantly Chosen.

In the Handicap Chase Coach Carter is not without a chance for the rider with the form of his last two runs looking very steady.