The Leopardstown Christmas Chase is the new name for the 3-Mile Grade 1 race formerly known as the Lexus Chase, and this year it will take place at Leopardstown on Thursday 28 December. This year’s contest has all the hallmarks of being a classic, and we may see a winner worthy of adding his name to a role of honour that includes the likes of Denman and Best Mate.
Leopardstown Christmas Chase 2017 10-Year-Trends
- Gigginstown Stud has targeted this race with great accuracy by winning the last 3 renewals
- Last year’s winner Outlander was the biggest-priced winner this century at 11/1
- Brian Cooper has ridden the winner twice in the last 3 years
- The last 10 winners have been aged 6, 7, 8 and 11
Leopardstown Christmas Chase 2017 Horse Racing Preview
Sizing John
The Jessica Harrington trained 7-year-old needs few introductions after winning the 2017 Irish Gold Cup, Cheltenham Gold Cup and Punchestown Gold Cup, a feat no horse had achieved before. He also bolted up on his seasonal reappearance in the John Durkan Chase, hammering Djakdam by an easy-looking 8-lengths, despite drifting markedly in the market before the race. Proven over course and distance, he will be very hard to beat, and this looks his only Christmas target after connections withdrew him from the King George on Boxing Day.
Yorkhill
Got a fair bit of stick when hating going right-handed when beaten at the 2017 Punchestown Festival, but the form of his success in the 2017 JLT Chase at the Cheltenham Festival suggests he could give Sizing John plenty to think about. Behind him that day were Top Notch (second), Disco (third) and Politilogue (fourth) and those three have already notched up multiple wins between them this season. Already a winner at Leopardstown, he promises to say 3-miles on his first attempt at the trip.
Djakadam
His CV of places in top-class races is admirable but, though his consistency may land him a big race at some point, he remains exposed to horses that have the potential to rate in the 170’s, such as Sizing John and Yorkhill. Meanwhile, he also only finished third in the 2016 renewal, when behind Outlander.
Disko
Looks to have improved this season, but could fall into the same category as Djakadam in that he may find top-class horses too good. That was the evidence last season, when he was beaten by Yorkhill and Our Duke.
Outlander
On any other course, Outlander probably wouldn’t be able to trouble the principals, but last year’s winner has recorded his best performances at Leopardstown each season, and remains undefeated here in 4 runs. On a line through Don Poli, who finished second in both the 2016 Lexus Chase and 2017 Irish Gold Cup, he may not be faraway from Sizing John, be it that rival has more potential for improvement.
Valseur Lido
Leopardstown hasn’t been a lucky venue for this one, as would probably have won the 2016 Irish Gold Cup if he hadn’t fallen at the last, and hasn’t been seen since finishing fourth in the 2016 Lexus Chase. Could go well if returning at his best, but this looks a much hotter contest than the previous ones he has contested here.
Our Leopardstown Christmas Chase 2017 Preview & Betting Tip: Sizing John
If all the main contenders turn up, the first renewal of the newly named Leopardstown Christmas Chase could be an absolute Christmas Cracker. Valseur Lido may need the run, whilst Djakadam and Disko may find this company too hot. Meanwhile, Outlander could outrun his odds judge on his impressive course record. However, this is fancied to boil down to a shootout between Sizing John and Yorkhill. Sizing John is the tip as he has the least to prove, but Yorkhill could yet be a superstar.