Normally it’s Willie Mullins we have to fear at Christmas time but the master of Closutton hasn’t had things his own way as of yet. It’s actually Joseph O’Brien who is flying it at the moment. The stable has been flying it in December and things have been rounded off with Banbridge winning the King George at Kempton and rank outsider Solness winning a Grade 1 at Leopardstown! O’Brien has two runners on Saturday who could be worth following.
The Grade 1 Faugheen Chase sees Impaire Et Passe installed as the hot favourite, and he is the one to beat, but he’s far from bombproof. Joseph O’Brien runs rank outsider Jordans in the contest, who might be too big a price. He won a 2m2f Grade 3 at Punchestown in October and unseated rider in a Grade 2 at the same track last month. The hood, which was worn the day he won, is back on which is a plus. He without doubt has to improve a great deal to win this, but like we saw with Solness, improvement could be on the way with the yard in stunning form.
O’Brien’s only other runner of the day has a much more obvious chance and that is Home By The Lee, who runs in the Grade 1 Savills Hurdle. This boy won this very race two years ago, but he in large had been way out of form prior to winning the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan cosily when last seen beating Bob Olinger. If he turns up and runs his race again, he will take all the beating.
If you back any of our selections you can watch them live on the free Racing Post app or racingpost.com. Simply log in to one of your bookmaker accounts and click ‘Watch live’ on the racecards.