Leopardstown racing tips: Facile Vega and Marine Nationale top the bill at Christmas Festival
Leopardstown forced to go behind closed doors for Christmas Festival
While the eyes of the UK racing community will be focused on the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, there’s also a four-day festival of racing to enjoy across the Irish Sea.
A few weeks ago, our resident racing expert Andrew of Fiosrach stepped away from his popular trends-related analyses to provide us with ten horses worth following throughout the current National Hunt season.
Now a couple of them are due to appear at the four-day Christmas Festival at Leopardstown throughout the festive week, and we’re keen to see how they perform on their return to action.
Facile Vega
- Age: 6 years old
- Jockey: Patrick Mullins
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Owner: Hammer & Trowel Syndicate
- Last time out: Nov 18 - 1st/12 at Navan (2 miles 1 furlong, soft-heavy)
- Next time out: Dec 26 14.20 Leopardstown - Racing Post Novice Chase (2 miles 1 furlong)
Facile Vega is likely to be on several horses-to-follow lists, despite only finishing runner-up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, as he then came out and demolished the field in the Champion Novices’ Hurdle at Punchestown in April. He won this top novice race in fine style and made good rivals look average.
Trainer Willie Mullins stated that: “Facile Vega doesn't have any respect for hurdles, so the sooner we go chasing the better.”
I expect Facile Vega to do very well chasing in novice ranks in the coming season and his trainer thinks he will be able to go further than two miles over fences.
He has already won four Grade one races – two over hurdles and two National Hunt flat races (bumpers), despite not taking to hurdles. I am looking forward to seeing how he adapts to jumping fences in the coming season.
Facile Vega is at his best going with cut, and distance-wise I would focus on 2 miles to 2 miles 4 furlongs until he proves he can go further. He is equally at home going right or left-handed.
On season debut last month, Facile Vega was not always fluent over the jumps but oozed class to lead from two out and eased clear when pushed on the run-in to land his odds-on price comfortably.
Suggested bet: Facile Vega in the 14:20 at Leopardstown
Marine Nationale
- Age: 6 years old
- Jockey: Michael O'Sullivan
- Trainer: Barry Connell
- Owner: Barry Connell
- Last time out: Mar 14 - 1st/14 at Cheltenham (2 miles 1/2 furlong, soft)
- Next time out: Dec 27 12.35 Leopardstown - Paddy Power From the Horse's Mouth Beginners Chase (2 miles 1 furlong)
Marine Nationale took me by surprise last season and would be the banker among this top ten to follow. He remains unbeaten in five starts and has superb speed across the turf between obstacles and that gains him several lengths.
His owner/trainer Barry Connell stated, after his horse won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, that he was thinking about sending Marine Nationale over fences this season with the Arkle at Cheltenham his main aim.
Yet to run since his Cheltenham success, his season debut in this beginners’ chase appears to have dashed our hopes of seeing him go hoof-to-hoof with Constitution Hill over smaller obstacles.
Summary of race times and runners:
- December 26 14:20 Facile Vega (Racing Post Novice Chase)
- December 27 12:35 Marine Nationale (Paddy Power From the Horse's Mouth Beginners Chase)
