RACING: Just before dozing off this Christmas Day, hands folded over your distended belly, spare a thought for those trekking back to work.For racing's professionals, this is just about the most un-dozy time of the year with 13 meetings spread over just six days. Brian O'Connor reports
But the staff at Christy Roche's stables on the Curragh might mooch in with a lighter step than most. The prospect of winners can do that.
Roche has an enviable record at most festivals but Leopardstown's Christmas bash is something he especially targets.
Bad weather reduced the fixture to three days in 2,000 but four winners still had the monicker "C Roche" next to their names. That was one more than 1999 and last year, the top class duo of Like-A-Buttefly and Bannow Bay won out.
Both of those are set to run again this week, just part of a team of up to 15 horses that the bookies will be keeping a wary eye on. But more familiar faces will be keeping an eye on them before that.
"Christmas Day is an 8.00 start rather than the usual 7.00 and we'll be on half staff. It's the local lads that usually work and I'm always glad to see faces on Christmas morning, even if there are a few sick heads.
"The horses have to be exercised, their beds cleaned out, they have to be hayed and watered and the same thing for evening stables. It has to be done, every day. But I've noticed the lads are glad to come back in the afternoon.
"It's something to do. A lot of people find Christmas Day boring," says Roche.
It's a scene that will be played out throughout the country but few trainers will have as much to think about over the Christmas pud' than the former champion jockey.
Acknowledged as one of the most powerful jump yards in the country, the full complement of star names will be out over the holidays, beginning with Le Coudray in the Denny Gold Medal Chase on Thursday.
"It's a very important time. Leopardstown at Christmas is usually a stepping stone to Cheltenham. Win a race there and you're in with a shot for the festival. But if a horse disappoints, it's back to the drawing-board with question marks hanging over him," he says.
If there's a question mark hanging over Le Coudray after his race, then there will be glum faces from the Curragh to JP McManus's home in Switzerland, and that is despite the former star stayer reverting to two miles.
"I'm very much wrapped up in this horse. Everything he does is right. I love everything about him. The trip is not a worry. From riding him myself I wonder now how he ever ran such a good race in the Stayers' Hurdle.
"He has lots of pace and even though his legs are always a bit dicey they have done a great job at JP's at bringing him back after all his injury problems," he says.
For a man famous for bringing a shrewd, unsentimental eye to the business of horses, such comments are positively gushing and lead one to the conclusion that the Denny opposition are queuing for the mixer.
Significantly though, the bulletin on the Champion Hurdle hope Like-A-Butterfly is less effusive. A Cheltenham winner last March, the mare hasn't been seen since April when beaten for the first and only time.
"She has had a long break and has been slow coming to hand. I have no doubt there is a good bit to come yet. I hope she puts in a good run at Christmas but she won't be a Champion Hurdle contender unless she goes and wins the AIG in January," is the Roche verdict.
Roche's trio of major Cheltenham hopes is completed by Bannow Bay who beat Limestone Lad in last year's Woodies Hurdle and will have another crack at the popular star on Saturday.
However, it also appears like a case of future rather than present for him.
"I still think Limestone Lad has the edge now, with soft ground and his fitness advantage. But come March I think I'll have the edge. Cheltenham is in the habit of providing good ground," he says before accepting that Bannow Bay's credentials sometimes get overlooked in the face of his flamboyant rival.
"I remember in the build up to Cheltenham last season, I was reading the press coverage and Bannow Bay just wasn't considered. He was supposed to be an ordinary horse, a no-hoper. But I don't really mind that. I love reading about every other trainer in the world but I dread reading about my own horses," he says.
Training some of the best in the country makes that an occupational hazard.
However, it's in some of the less high profile races that the bookies will be anxiously scanning the horizon. Le Coudray and the rest are known quantities. Financial danger might be lurking under the depths.
Pressed on horses to follow over the next few days, Roche offers Lost Time, Which Half and Kadiskar.
"Which Half was third at Fairyhouse and should come on from that. Lost Time will go for a two and a half mile maiden. He's a JP home-bred and won a bumper at Navan. Another horse of ours, Murphy's Retreat was third in it.
"Kadiskar is a real nice horse who'll go in the Graded novice hurdle. I like him and he is improving but he'll probably have that good mare of the Bowe's (Solerina) to beat.
"She'll tell us how good he is. I ran Plenty Of Ice against her at Punchestown and she beat him well. The one thing is I left him a good bit short that day and there's a two and a half mile hurdle Plenty Of Ice can run in over Christmas," he says.
With such a powerful team of horses ready for the off, working Christmas Day might not be much of a chore at all.
Christy Roche, pictured with Like-A-Butterfly and Charlie Swan after her success in last February's Deloitte and Touche Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown, returns to the Foxrock venue on Sunday for the Festival Hurdle.
THE GUIDE: Leopardstown's main events and principal characters
THURSDAY
1.30 - Denny Juvenile Hurdle, 2m: Golden Cross boasts the best piece of juvenile form this season from a Grade Three success at Fairyhouse at the start of the month. He faces a difficult task here, however, against some of the best three-year-old prospects in the country. Party Airs has won twice and could still be on the improve while the ex-French Harchibald recovered from one bad mistake to win at Fairyhouse.
2.40 - Denny Gold Medal Novice Chase, 2m1f: Le Coudray put up a Grade One winning performance earlier in the month in the Drinmore and escapes a penalty for this. The minimum trip is new ground for the former top staying hurdler but his trainer is confident of his pace. Le Coudray's jumping looks solid. Bust Out returned from a year off to win on his chasing debut and The Gatherer raced like a good horse on his first fencing start until falling two out.
FRIDAY
12.55 - Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase, 2m1f: Moscow Flyer is on a retrieval mission after his fifth fence fall in the Tingle Creek behind Cenkos. Fell at Leopardstown last Christmas but looks hard to beat with a clear round. The Fortria winner Alcapone returns to two miles and could be the one to fill the runner-up spot.
2.00 - paddypower.com future champion novice hurdle, 2m: This is an option for Solerina who races in the Limestone Lad colours and whose front-running style has troubled the very best novices this season. Kadiskar couldn't have won easier at Fairyhouse while Central House represents the Hardy Eustace stable. Back In Front ran second to Hardy Eustace in the Royal Bond and should improve considerably for the run.
2.35 - Paddy Power Handicap Chase, 3m: One of the most valuable handicaps of the year and usually good for the shock result. Cork trainer Robert Tyner has won it twice and brings last year's winner I Can Imagine back for another try. A recent hurdles run was encouraging and she looks sure to go close again. Ballyamber has been ante-post favourite since betting began but is conceding a lot in experience. Precious Music is on a winning streak and his excellent jumping will count for a lot.
SATURDAY
1.30 - Neville and Sons Novice Chase, 3m: Le Coudray looks the season's outstanding novice this season but runs in the Denny. Be My Belle won well at Fairyhouse but a dark horse could be The Premier Cat who jumps really well and beat Boneyarrow at Clonmel.
2.05 - Woodies.com Christmas Hurdle, 3m: Looks likely to be a repeat of last year when Bannow Bay edged out Limestone Lad in a thriller. Four out of four this season looks to give Limestone lad the fitness edge this time.
2.40 - Ericsson Chase, 3m: Rince Ri (1999-00) and Foxchapel King (2001) come back to try and win it again. Apart from Florida Pearl and Native Upmanship, the rest of Ireland's top staying chaser will also be taking on the French star First Gold. The former King George winner ran an okay comeback race in the Durkan but worries persist that he may be on the slide. The new boys will be led by the Hennessy runner-up Harbour Pilot and Colonel Braxton who flopped over hurdles last time. Sackville bounced back at Haydock but on decent ground would do well to cope with Foxchapel King.
SUNDAY
1.10 - Evening Herald December Festival Hurdle: 2m: Istabraq's old stepping stone looks more competitive now with Cheltenham winner Like-A-Butterfly making her seasonal debut. Up against the McManus-owned star will be Scottish Memories who got so close to Limestone Lad in the Hatton's Grace. Davenport Milenium goes to Kempton but this will determine to a significant extent who is the major Irish champion hurdle fancy.
