Christmas Festival Leopardstown (Saturday)

Saturday at Leopardstown keeps the Christmas racing rolling, with another strong card and plenty more puzzles for punters to get stuck into. The festive buzz is still there, the fields are deep, and by now the markets are really starting to take shape.

From smart performers backing up to wide-open handicaps, there’s loads of opportunity if you’re willing to dig a little. I’ve lined up the key Leopardstown tips, angles and talking points to help you have a proper go at another cracking day of festive racing.

Top Christmas Festival Leopardstown Weekend offer

Christmas Festival Leopardstown Weekend (Saturday) tips

• 12.05 Manoir De Mirande – 2/1
• 12.37 Kargese – 4/6 with Ladbrokes
• 1.12 Marine Nationale – 7/4 with bet365 NAP
• 1.47 Le Divin Enfant – 15/8 NEXT BEST
• 2.22 Ace Brannigan – 6/1 with bet365
• 3.00 Waterford Whispers – 10/1
• 3.30 Arcadian Emperor – 4/5 with bet365

*odds provided are correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.

Joe’s best horse racing betting tips for Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival on Saturday (27th December)

Find my top tips for today’s racing with odds from the best horse racing bookies below:

12.05 Paddy Power I Have No Idea What Day It Is 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle 2m

I have no doubt Gordon Elliot is unleashing an abundance of talent at this four-day festival and MANOIR DE MIRANDE looks another one. This horse looked set to make a winning start over hurdles before taking a tumble at the last at Cork. If none the worse from that he should quickly gain compensation.

The dark horse in the race Dschingis Desire makes her debut for Willie Mullins and if she is heavily supported in the betting the alarm bells could start ringing as she looks the part on paper. Ole Ole has been beaten a length the last twice and if improving again is another one to note.

12.37 Paddy Power From The Horses Mouth Podcast Beginners Chase 2m1f

I know KARGESE was somewhat underwhelming on chase debut at Cork but with that experience under her belt she has found a good opportunity to get back on track here.

She’ll need to jump better but was obviously hugely promising over hurdles and could still have a bright future in this sphere.

Lovely Hurling is a nice type and he bumped into Kopek Des Bordes on chase debut at Navan. I expect him to improve from that and pose the biggest threat to the favourite.

The rest do look up against it but don’t lack quality and if there are any jumping errors from the principals James’s Gate could be capable of springing an upset.

Bet on KARGESE to win at 4/6 with Ladbrokes

1.12 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase (Grade 1) 2m1f

• 8 of the last 12 winners were aged 7 or older
• 6 of the last 12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
• 12 of the last 12 winners were rated 150 or higher
• 9 of the last 12 winners had at least 1 previous win in a Graded race

The race of the day now and I’ve got to be in the MARINE NATIONALE camp here. He was back to his best winning the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and then backed that up winning convincingly at Punchestown on final start. Barry Connell seems to have him back in great form and this looks a good starting point.

Majborough is still a horse I think can have a future over fences but his jumping would need to improve a great deal to spring the upset here. I do expect him to reverse form with Found A Fifty but I still think he’ll need another run at least before we see him at his best.

Bet on MARINE NATIONALE to win at 7/4 with bet365

1.47 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m

• 11 of the last 12 winners were aged 4 or 5
• 7 of the last 12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
• 6 of the last 12 winners won on their last run before
• 5 of the last 12 winners were rated 140 or higher

I know LE DIVIN ENFANT was expected to win as he did on hurdles debut but it was still impressive making all by half the track. He could be a top prospect and is expected to follow up against these despite this obviously looking a much tougher ask.

I know his trainer holds him in high regard and 15/8 could look big as I expect him to get heavily backed come post time.

Skylight Hustle represents Robcour and was an impressive winner at Fairyhouse second time out over hurdles. He looks to be going the right way now and with further improvement to come does look the danger.

Love Me Tender is still unbeaten having won a bumper and both starts over hurdles. He hasn’t beat much though so will need to improve to beat these.

2.22 National Maternity Hospital Foundation Handicap Hurdle 2m

This is definitely one of the toughest races on the card so a tentative selection goes to ACE BRANNIGAN for Henry de Bromhead. I was really impressed with the way he won on hurdles debut at Tipperary and then he found Graded company too hot at Navan.

He goes handicapping now and it would be no surprise to see him bounce back to his best here.

Bowensonfire has really decent form to his name behind the likes of French Ship at Cheltenham and Zillow at Fairyhouse. He will likely go off favourite and does look the danger.

Saint Lucie will be a huge price and if she settles better here she could have a squeak so might be worth a small saver at a price as she goes well fresh too.

Bet on ACE BRANNIGAN Each Way at 6/1 with bet365

3.00 Paddy Power Chase (Class 1) 3m100y

JP McManus won this last year with Perceval Legallois and he has multiple darts again. I like WATERFORD WHISPERS for Henry de Bromhead.

This son of Westerner has long shaped like he’d relish 3 miles and despite running poorly at Punchestown last month should still be well handicapped off the same mark if bouncing back. He remains lightly raced and looks good value in the market.

Weveallbeencaught bumped into French Dynamite at Limerick when last seen and freshened up with this in mind should run a big race.

His strike rate would be worrying though and while he is feared I think he’ll hit the frame rather than win. Ballysax Hank is still just a 6yo and could take his form up a few notches if appreciating the trip so is another one to note.

3.30 Paddy Power The Flat One Flat Race 2m4f25y

No surprise to see ARCADIAN EMPEROR a warm order in the bumper for Mullins. This McManus-owned 4yo impressed winning a point by 6 lengths and has subsequently joined top connections. He starts off over 2 and a half miles and could be a promising young horse.

Generous Risk was beaten 3 lengths at Fairyhouse and is improving with experience so could emerge as the danger. Beechwood Road is making his racecourse debut and if he is well supported in the market he is another one to note as well in an intriguing finale.

Bet on ARCADIAN EMPEROR to win at 4/5 with bet365

My top tip for Saturday’s racing at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival

I’m expecting KARGESE to get firmly back on track over fences and I have put her in the treble with the returning MARINE NATIONALE who will be hard to beat in the Grade 1 and LE DIVIN ENFANT who very much still falls into the ‘could be anything’ category.

Bet a Win Treble on KARGESE, MARINE NATIONALE and LE DIVIN ENFANT at 12/1 with bet365

About the author

Joe Norris

I’m Joe Norris, co-founder and Director of GetYourTipsOut (GYTO), which I launched in 2009 to provide daily sports betting tips, with the main focus on horse racing. Over the years, I’ve earned a reputation for offering reliable and profitable tips, which led to being named “Best Sports Betting Tipster” in 2023. Alongside my work at GYTO, I also contribute predictions to platforms like Oddschecker, allowing me to share my insights with a wide community of sports enthusiasts and bettors.

Find Joe on X: @JoeNorrisGYTO

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