Leopardstown Dornan Engineering Christmas Hurdle: Runner by runner guide

Won the grade one Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown and the grade one Aintree Hurdle last season. The latter was ahead of subsequent grade two winner Buzz, who won the Coral Hurdle at Ascot this season. In behind was Former Champion Hurdle winner, Buveur D’air and grade one winner over two miles, Silver Streak. Despite there being a sedate pace in the first half of the race, this is strong form. His trainer, Gordon Elliot, hopes that a step up to three miles will suit this horse’s strong travelling ability. He was last seen finishing 12 lengths 3^rd to a rampant Honeysuckle over 2^1/2 miles in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse last month and his ability makes him competitive in most fields. He doesn’t tend to work hard once in front.

Was the runner up in the 2019 Albert Bartlett, 2 lengths behind eventual Gold Cup winner, Minella Indo. Last seen when victorious over three miles at Navan earlier this month, where Burning Victory was a distant 16^th. He carried top weight but with it was a handicap so this represents a step up. It was his 3^rd run this season and the other two were less successful. 5^th of six runners to 2019 Cesarewitch winner Stratum at Thurles and fell when two from home in a handicap last month. Wears blinkers again here.

Winner of this race last season where Sire Du Berlais finished 6 lengths behind in 3^rd. Since winning the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, Flooring porter has failed to complete his next two starts. He was pulled up in the Punchestown Stayers’ Hurdle in April, behind eventual winner Klassical Dream. This came after some messy jumping and his stamina quickly emptied when approaching the straight. In his seasonal reappearance in the grade two Lismullen Hurdle at Navan, he guessed at the 2^nd last and fell when fighting for the lead. This came after a strong tendency to jump left throughout. Here he will Face Klassical dream again, but trainer Gavin Cromwell is hopeful that course form will count and reports that the champion is in good health.

Finished 3^rd in the grade two Lismullen Hurdle over 2^1/2 miles in November behind eventual winner Darasso. He was head to head with Flooring Porter when his opponent fell. Sire Du Berlais finished 1^1/2 lengths ahead of this horse in 2^nd and will go again in this race. Last season Grand Roi moved from Nicky Henderson’s ownership and Seven Barrows to be trained by Gordon Elliott. His best result over hurdles came in the grade two Grant Thornton Hurdle at Limerick in December last year. He also picked up a respectable 2^nd place finish in a grade three contest. Both of these came over the distance of two miles. Although he showed some progression last season, he has never run over the three mile distance and Gordon Elliott has acknowledged that when talking to the Racing Post. He also hopes his charge will improve with his first run of the season under his belt.

Made an outstanding comeback, after 16 months away from the racecourse, when winning the grade one Ladbrokes Champion Hurdle in April. Flooring Porter pulled up and Ronald Pump could only finish 3^rd, 12 lengths behind the eventual winner. The change in distance and the application of a hood appeared to transform this horse, after finishing a disappointing last of five in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown in December 2019. He won three grade ones at novice level over two miles. Mullins appeared to have got the best out of this horse again, but over three miles last time out. He comes into this race fresh, making his seasonal debut, which also might have been a factor in such an impressive victory. Connections are hopeful he can repeat most recent form. His Jockey, Paul Townend, also comes into the race with eight wins from 16 starts. Jockey and stable in form.

Hasn’t been seen on a racecourse in 879 days, where he won on the flat at Galway. At his best was a grade one winner as a juvenile. Also won a grade two ahead of smart grade one winner Bapaume in France in 2019. There is no clear explanation for the long absence. Klassical Dream, who also runs here, is proof a Mullins horse can come on well after a long period off the racecourse. Tornado Flyer’s heroics in the King George VI two days ago also tells us how well a Mullins outsider can do. However, Mullins has said it could be a tough ask for this runner.

Cheltenham Stayers’ Hurdle runner-up in 2020. Often puts in a brave effort, finishing in the places behind top class opposition. He has finished 2^nd in four grade one contests. Last seen finishing 15 lengths 5^th to Champ in the grade one Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot ten days ago. This came after a brave effort finishing 8 lengths 2^nd to unbeaten Honeysuckle, over the shorter distance of 2^1/2 miles. He was still 4^1/4 lengths ahead of Abacadabras and a mile ahead of Saldier in 5^th. Both are runners he will face again here. In that run he set a rapid pace from the front. Trainer Keith Donoghue stated that the blinkers made him too keen at Ascot so they have been removed this time around.

Last grade one victory was in 2019. Was kept busy over the summer when picking up a win on the flat and has already picked up a grade three over hurdles this season. This came at Tipperary where he finished 3 lengths ahead of previously mentioned Darasso. This form was reversed recently in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle when finishing 5^th to winner Honeysuckle. He finished a long way behind Ronald Pump (2^nd), Abacadabras (3^rd) and 2^1/2 lengths behind Darasso (4^th). Mullins has reported that Saldier took a knock going down before that run however, so this form might not reflect accurately. His only run over three miles came a long way 8^th in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle in April where Klassical Dream cruised to victory. Mullins believes he could still be effective at this distance. Runs without cheekpieces this time.

Last seen finishing 10^th of 11 runners in a beginners chase at Galway in October. Form over hurdles reads more promising however, with two placing efforts at grade one as a novice. He also picked up a grade two over hurdles at Gowran Park in January, 16 lengths ahead of Darasso in 4^th, who appears a useful reference point here in the form. This run came over a distance of three miles on heavy going. A hood was also applied here for the first time but it has been taken off after the unsuccessful effort over fences. That victory came last season after he fell over fences at Thurles in November. He picked up a fractured rib which bruised his lungs. Somehow the injury went undetected and he actually ran WITH that injury nine days later, finishing very respectable 3^rd, 11 lengths behind eventual Cheltenham festival winner over fences Monkfish. Long recovered from the injury and soft ground conditions here should suit.

Was runner-up in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival in March, just 3^1/4 lengths behind a brilliant Flooring Porter. Finished 3^rd in this race last year, again behind a victorious Flooring Porter. Was last seen 6 lengths 2^nd in the grade two Lismullen Hurdle behind Darasso at Navan in November. He won the Lismullen last season and the performance could be considered a relative step down compared to his usual form. It was his seasonal debut and he should be better for the run.

The only mare in the race completes Willie Mullins’ four horse assault line-up. She won the grade one Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2020, a race most memorable after classy but erratic Goshen unseated rider when in a healthy lead, blundering at the last. Burning Victory has been kept busy during the summer, with a few runs on the level. She finished 7^th in a handicap hurdle at Galway in June, 6^1/2 lengths behind the winner Saldier, who also runs here. She then picked up a win in France and an impressive 2^nd place finish 1^1/2 lengths behind recent grade two winner over hurdles, Buzz. She “disappointed” ,according to Willie Mullins, in a big field in her seasonal reappearance over obstacles at Navan in December. The winner of that race was Commander of Fleet who runs here. Mullins is hopeful the smaller field will encourage a better run from her.