A STORY TO TELL IN CHRISTMAS HURDLE

13:15 Leopardstown

The first Grade 1 on the card sees the annual running of the Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle and this years renewal is dominated by trained Gordon Elliott.

With seven runners set to go to post he saddles the first three in the betting with the JP McManus owned Sire Du Berlais and Gigginstown’s Fury Road vying it out for favouritism. Both won their most recent efforts and both should improve for those outings however it’s the outsider of Elliott’s trio that gets my vote.

THE STORYTELLER has barely put a foot wrong of late and aims to make it three victories in a row after back to back successes. This will be his toughest test to date but it’d be foolish to discredit his chances.

That being said the fact there’s only money on offer for the first two places makes this a harder test but if one of his more fancied stablemates falters he could finish in the money.

At around 7/1 he’s worth an each way play to potentially upset the main protagonists.

THE STORYTELLER (E/W)

written by Rory Paddock