15:05 Leopardstown

Sunday 28 December 2025

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 5m 59.80s

Olympic Man³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134

40/1

Useful hurdler at best. Regressed as a chaser but showed he retains ability in 2 starts on the Flat this autumn. However, was well held back hurdling in handicap at Punchestown (24.2f, soft) 5 weeks ago, so others are more persuasive.

Form: 617P-P6

Daily Present^b,t²⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 132

50/1

Confirmed the promise of first 2 starts last season when landing Kim Muir Chase at Cheltenham in March. Wasn't in the same form when pulled up in Irish Grand National the following month, though, and may just be sharper for this run returning over hurdles.

Form: 5P/331P-

Jordans^h²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Keith Donoghue| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 132

13/2

Developed into a smart chaser last season, runner-up in Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree final outing. Left poorly placed on return when eighth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (20.5f, soft), so he remains capable of better from his lower hurdles mark.

Form: 1U252-8

Millstream Lady³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Michael Kenneally⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 130| D

15/2

Has returned better than ever, making it 2 wins from 3 starts when landing listed mares race at Limerick in October. Again ran well when runner-up in handicap at Punchestown (24.2f, soft) 5 weeks ago (winner has scored again since) and she can give another good account.

Form: 05-1312

Desertmore House^t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Ricky Doyle| T: M Brassil| OR: 128

28/1

Took well to the cross-country discipline when second in La Touche Cup at Punchestown (33f) in May and, following a point success, scored comfortably in 15-runner cross-country race back at Punchestown (24.4f, soft) 5 weeks ago. Could go well off lower hurdles mark.

Form: 00P2-11

Sysko⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 127

18/1

Confirmed hurdling debut promise when scoring at Punchestown in June and got back on the up when second on handicap debut at Listowel in September. Again shaped well when fourth of 14 in listed handicap at Naas (20f, heavy) last time and he could be in the mix.

Form: 4-1724

Eclipse Chaser^t⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 126| BF

12/1

Looked good prospect on second start over hurdles when winning a Navan maiden in September. Failed to improve when fourth of 7 in Monksfield Novices' Hurdle at same course (20f, heavy) 6 weeks ago, but he still has potential upped in trip for handicap bow.

Form: F/60-214

Timeless Treaty²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 126| BF

11/2

Successful first 2 outings starting off over hurdles but hasn't kicked on since, though shaped better than result following a bad mistake 3 out when fifth of 20 in handicap at Fairyhouse (20.5f, soft) last month. Could yet do better upped in distance.

Form: 115U5

Cameletta Vega⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: H Cobden| T: W P Mullins| OR: 121

16/1

Didn't go on in bumpers following a winning debut but made a successful start over hurdles at Cork in May. Has made the frame all 3 start outings since, fourth of 9 in Grade 3 novice at Down Royal (16.9f, good to soft) last time, and longer trip could suit on handicap bow.

Form: 48-1244

Duke Silver⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Hugh Horgan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 119

25/1

Doubled his tally in a Listowel handicap in September, ridden more positively, but followed that with one of season's lesser efforts when well held at Punchestown (23.1f, good to soft) 20 days later. Needs to get back on the up.

Form: 272410

Yeah Man^p⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Eoin Staples⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 118| D

7/2

With recent run behind him, returned to his best when runner-up in Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan (24f, heavy) 6 weeks ago. Had only the 3 runs over hurdles in 2022/23 and he's potentially well treated off much lower mark back in this sphere.

Form: U9U9-62

Promontory⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: Sarah Connell| OR: 117

28/1

Relished the step up in trip when winning maiden at Limerick (24f) in April. However, returned lame in handicap next time and well held when seventh of 10 in novice at Galway (18.2f, good to soft) on seasonal/chase debut in October. Others preferred back over hurdles.

Form: 4310-7

Savante^t1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Ewing| T: Colm Murphy| OR: 117

22/1

Fairly useful form over hurdles, though without a win since debut in this sphere last season. Below that level tried chasing the last twice, fifth of 15 in maiden at Cork (21.2f, soft) 5 weeks ago. Tongue strap now applied back hurdling.

Form: B8P-055

Rue Taylor^p1,t⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Danny Gilligan| T: P Nolan| OR: 114

25/1

Resumed progress/winning ways upped further in trip in novice at Wexford (24.5f) in April. Looked rusty on return, but in first-time tongue strap she failed to come on for that run when seventh of 19 in handicap at Navan (21f, heavy) 6 weeks ago. Cheekpieces now added.

Form: 1541-07

Intent Approach³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Peter Smithers⁽⁷⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 113| BF

9/2

Justified support when opening account in handicap at Down Royal (22f) in April last year. Following an 18-month absence, offered encouragement first 2 starts this season, before a below-par effort at Punchestown (24.2, soft) last time. He's not ruled out, though.

Form: 681/735

Must Go Now^h²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Luke Dempsey| T: E Cawley| OR: 113

33/1

Improved form when getting off the mark in handicap at Fairyhouse (20f) last season. Ran well 2 of next 3 starts, before shaping as if needing the run after 7 months off when twelfth of 20 at Fairyhouse (20.5f, soft) 29 days ago. Hood back on.

Form: 01395-0

Small Town Hero^p,t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 113

7/1

Landed a hat-trick over hurdles this summer before capitalising on lower chase mark at Downpatrick in October. Winning run ended next time, but returned to hurdling he added to his tally at Haydock (24.3f, good) 25 days ago. Can make another bold bid.

Form: 111141

Heliko Conti¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Cian Quirke| T: P Nolan| OR: 109

40/1

It's now 19 runs since last win in 2023 and has been stuggling for form back over hurdles this season, thirteenth of 19 in handicap at Navan (20f, heavy) 2 weeks ago. Looks to be up against it.

Form: 836-0P0

Non-Runners

Son Of Anarchy³⁶

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: Mark Walsh

Colonia Victoria⁴¹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 5

T: P Nolan J: Sean Flanagan

Forecasts

Yeah Man (7/2), Son Of Anarchy (4/1), Intent Approach (9/2), Timeless Treaty (11/2), Jordans (13/2), Small Town Hero (7/1), Millstream Lady (15/2), Eclipse Chaser (12/1), Cameletta Vega (16/1), Sysko (18/1), Colonia Victoria (20/1), Savante (22/1), Duke Silver (25/1), Rue Taylor (25/1), Promontory (28/1), Desertmore House (28/1), Must Go Now (33/1), Heliko Conti (40/1), Olympic Man (40/1), Daily Present (50/1)

Preference is for SON OF ANARCHY, who made a winning handicap debut in good style at Punchestown last time and could have more still to offer back up in distance. He is taken to see off the challenge of Yeah Man, who has a much lower mark to contend with reverted to hurdling, while Eclipse Chaser and Desertmore House could also be in the mix.