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Sizing John and Yorkhill top 22 possibles for Leopardstown Christmas cracker

3 minute read

Sizing John and Yorkhill remain on course for a mouthwatering clash at Leopardstown, with both featuring among 22 confirmations for the Leopardstown Christmas Chase on December 28.

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Sizing Johnmade a successful reappearance with a brilliant display in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown earlier this month and is set to return to three miles on day three of the Christmas Festival at Foxrock.

Sizing John
Sizing John Picture: Pat Healy Photography

Willie Mullins recently earmarked this event as a likely comeback target for dual Cheltenham Festival hero Yorkhill and the champion trainer could also call upon dual Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Djakadam and Killultagh Vic, who has been on the sidelines for almost two years.

Yorkhill
Yorkhill Picture: PA Sport

Last year's winner Outlander is one of six contenders for Gordon Elliott, along with A Toi Phil, Ball D'Arc, Empire Of Dirt, Lord Scoundrel and Mala Beach.

Other contenders include Noel Meade's Disko, Valseur Lido from Henry de Bromhead's yard and the Joseph O'Brien-trained Edwulf, who has not been seen since collapsing at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

O'Brien told the Irish Times: "Nothing like what happened at Cheltenham has happened to him again.

"He's had a couple of good bits of work recently and taken it very well.

"If anything he looks better than he ever was. We wouldn't run him otherwise."

Apple's Jade could face up to eight rivals in the Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle on the same afternoon.

Elliott's brilliant mare claimed her sixth Grade One success when dominating her rivals in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse earlier this month and is set to step up to three miles for the first time in a bid to add to her top-level tally.

Elliott has also confirmed Lieutenant Colonel and Prince Of Scars, the winners of this event in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Mullins claimed the prize for a third time with Vroum Vroum Mag 12 months ago and his potential team is made up of Killultagh Vic, Nichols Canyon, Bapaume and Augusta Kate.

Jessica Harrington's former Champion Hurdle winner Jezki and his Coral Cup-winning stablemate Supasundae complete the entries.


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