The feature staying hurdles race over Christmas in Ireland is the 3m Grade 1 Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle on Tuesday, 28 December (1:45). This should not be confused with the 2m race at Kempton on Boxing Day with the same name. See which horses SportsLens tipsters put on their shortlist with 2021 Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle tips here.
Mares have won four of the last five renewals but three of those went to the mighty Apple’s Jade. The sole female declared this year is some way off the standards she set. Nine of the last 11 Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle winners had an official rating of 150+, so it takes a top horse and thorough stay to land this test of stamina.