14:32 Leopardstown

Monday 29 December 2025

All11:4012:1212:4713:2213:5714:3215:0515:40

December Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:32 | Winning time: 3m 53.1s

Anzadam^h³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 157| D

6/1

Smart hurdler. 11/4, 1½ lengths second of 5 to Golden Ace in Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle (16.9f, good to soft) 30 days ago. Lossiemouth is clearly the stable first-string, but this unexposed 5-y-o is respected nonetheless.

Form: 11/11-2

Casheldale Lad^h²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 148| D

16/1

Smart hurdler. 3 wins from 5 runs this season. Fell in Hatton's Grace Hurdle (10/1) at Fairyhouse (20f, soft) 29 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Looks vulnerable.

Form: 21-311F

Futurum Regem^b³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Eoghan Finegan| T: H P Finegan| OR: 98

300/1

Fair hurdler. 50/1, last of 11 in handicap at Dundalk (16f) 33 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles and he faces a very stiff task on these terms.

Form: 408957

Hello Neighbour^h¹⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 148| CD

28/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. 11/4 and hood on for 1st time in this code, 18¼ lengths tenth of 11 to Chally Chute in listed race at Roscommon (12.1f, good to soft). Switches from Flat to hurdles and needs to raise his game.

Form: 1163-

Irancy³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 156| D

28/1

Smart hurdler. 1 win from 2 runs this season. 5/1, 34¾ lengths last of 4 to Lossiemouth in Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown (16.7f, soft) 37 days ago. That was a disappointing effort given the promise of his novice campaign and he clearly has work to do.

Form: 3/1711-4

Winter Fog^p³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144| CD

80/1

Useful hurdler. C&D winner. Eleven runs since last win in 2024. 30¾ lengths sixth of 8 to Wodhooh in Howden Ascot Hurdle (28/1) at Ascot (19.3f, good to soft) 37 days ago. This 11-y-o is seemingly the least fancied of the Willie Mullins-trained quartet.

Form: 34-5046

Brighterdaysahead²⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 159| CD

5/2

Very smart hurdler. Below form 9 lengths third of 6 to Jade De Grugy in Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown (20.5f, good to soft, 6/4) when last seen 8 months ago. Record when fresh is very good and she won this race in fine style 12 months ago. Big player.

Form: 1/11143-

Lossiemouth³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 159| CD

4/6

Very smart hurdler. C&D winner. Career best when winning 4-runner Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown (16.7f, soft, 1/5) 37 days ago by 19 lengths from Glen Kiln, unchallenged. Record now stands at 12 wins from 14 completed starts and she is very much the one to beat.

Form: 12F11-1

Forecasts

Lossiemouth (4/6), Brighterdaysahead (5/2), Anzadam (6/1), Casheldale Lad (16/1), Hello Neighbour (28/1), Irancy (28/1), Winter Fog (80/1), Futurum Regem (300/1)

This will be the first time that top-notch mares BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD and Lossiemouth lock horns and while the latter is a worthy favourite, Brighterdaysahead was mightily impressive when winning this 12 months ago and, at the forecast prices, she is the more appealing of the two. The selection was well below her best at the Cheltenham and Punchestown spring festivals but, like Lossiemouth, her record has very few blemishes and she goes very well fresh. Anzadam is best of the rest.