DECEMBER HURDLE - PREVIEW & TIPS
2:32 LEOPARDSTOWN
DECEMBER HURDLE (GRADE 1)
A championship-speed trial on day four of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival.
DECEMBER HURDLE - PREVIEW
A cornerstone of the Leopardstown Christmas meeting, the December Hurdle has long been one of Ireland’s most informative two-mile Grade 1s. It was run under various names before being renamed in honour of Istabraq (a four-time winner) and it has carried Grade 1 status since 2002. The roll of honour underlines its standing as a key midwinter yardstick for the Champion Hurdle picture, with several greats using this race to confirm their class before marching on to Cheltenham.
This year’s renewal is run over the bare two miles with eight flights, for a prize fund of €90,000 and the going is currently described as yielding-good to yielding in places. It’s a compact but high-quality line-up headed by two top-class mares in Lossiemouth and last year’s winner Brighterdaysahead, with an intriguing supporting cast that includes the unexposed Anzadam and a handful who need to find a fair chunk on ratings.
DECEMBER HURDLE - RUNNER BY RUNNER GUIDE
ANZADAM - 5/1
Smart and still relatively unexposed, he arrives off a strong second in the Fighting Fifth, shaping as though he belongs at the top table. Lossiemouth sets a clear standard, but Anzadam looks the one most likely to bridge the gap if taking another step forward.
CASHELDALE LAD - 25/1
A progressive type earlier in the season, but his fall in the Hatton’s Grace is an obvious concern given the level of opposition here. He’s talented enough to travel into it, yet looks vulnerable if the principals run to their marks.
FUTURUM REGEM - 250/1
His recent form leaves him with a very stiff task on these terms and he has plenty to prove at this level. It would be a surprise if he could play anything more than a minor supporting role.
HELLO NEIGHBOUR - 33/1
A lightly-raced hurdler with Leopardstown form in the book, including a Grade 1 win over this trip earlier in the year. He needs a big step back towards that peak after a lesser effort on the Flat last time, but at least has the course credentials to suggest he won’t be fazed by the stage.
IRANCY - 16/1
A smart performer at his best, though his latest run behind Lossiemouth in the Morgiana was a major disappointment and he has to leave that well behind. If bouncing back to his novice-season promise he can threaten places, but he comes with more questions than answers.
WINTER FOG - 80/1
Useful on his day and a previous course-and-distance winner, yet he’s been kept busy without getting his head in front for some time. This looks deeper than anything he’s faced recently and he needs a significant revival to get properly involved.
BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD - 4/1
Last year’s winner and a mare with a very strong record when fresh, she brings real pace and quality to the table. She didn’t hit her best form in the spring, but Leopardstown clearly suits and she is the one most capable of making this properly competitive if returning at or near last season’s level.
LOSSIEMOUTH - 8/15
A top-class mare and the clear form standard on what we’ve seen this season, having returned in the Morgiana with a dominant Grade 1 success. She’s a proven two-miler here and her overall profile suggests she remains the one they all have to beat if reproducing that latest run.
DECEMBER HURDLE - FINAL THOUGHTS
The shape of this looks straightforward: Lossiemouth sets the tempo class-wise and on her most recent Grade 1 win, she should be able to control matters from the front end of the market. Brighterdaysahead is the obvious spoiler given her brilliant record fresh and the fact she won this race in emphatic fashion 12 months ago, while Anzadam appeals as the improver most likely to capitalise if either of the big two underperforms.
From there, it starts to feel like a race for places. Irancy needs to rebound sharply from a disappointing effort behind the selection, while Hello Neighbour at least brings Leopardstown evidence to the table if rediscovering his best. Ultimately, though, Lossiemouth looks the most reliable option in a Grade 1 that often provides a clean read on the top of the division and she’s preferred to confirm her standing here.