15:35 Leopardstown

Wednesday 27 December 2023

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:2015:0015:35

Paddy Power The Flat One Flat Race

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 5m 25.06s

Artic Lane⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D L Queally| T: D Queally

5/1

Successful on second of 2 starts in points (Nov 12). Betting should help guide to expectations.

Form: 31

Blaze The Way

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T Hamilton| T: Ms M Mullins

12/1

Getaway gelding. Half-brother to useful hurdler Enniscoffey Oscar. Watching brief advised on debut.

Form:

Bleu De Vassy²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr H C Swan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott

2/1

Cost €235,000 after finishing runner-up in a point. Promising second in bumpers at Sligo and Fairyhouse for new connections. Up in trip. Leading claims.

Form: 2-22

Joystick¹⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins

11/8

Third sole start in points (Apr 9). Has switched to leading connections ahead of bumper debut. Market confidence would look significant for yard seeking a sixth win in this since 2016.

Form: 3-

Major Barry²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss A B O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: J & T Kiely

6/1

Once-raced maiden. 22/1, second of 6 in bumper at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) on NH debut 25 days ago, keeping on well. Up in trip.

Form: F5-2

Toor Khov³²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: Ms M Flynn

33/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 25/1, third of 6 in bumper at Punchestown (16.7f, soft) 32 days ago.

Form: P-333

The Lord Maid

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Michael Kenneally⁽⁷⁾| T: J Halley

80/1

Mount Nelson mare. Dam (c129/h109), 2½m-3m hurdle/chase winner, half-sister to useful hurdler/chaser (stayed 29f) Smoking Gun.

Form:

Vroomvroomboo

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss H Heffernan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Fahey

50/1

(Production):€14,000 3-y-o: half-sister to 4 winners, including fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser Dandy Dan (winner up to 3¼m, by Midnight Legend) and useful bumper winner/fair 2m hurdle winner Bigbadandbeautiful (by Big Bad Bob): dam winning pointer.

Form:

Forecasts

Joystick (11/8), Bleu De Vassy (2/1), Artic Lane (5/1), Major Barry (6/1), Blaze The Way (12/1), Toor Khov (33/1), Vroomvroomboo (50/1), The Lord Maid (80/1)

BLEU DE VASSY has been shaping up well in recent weeks and is likely to take a bit of stopping unless the betting vibes are notably strong surrounding the Willie Mullins point recruit Joystick.