Horse Racing: Unbeaten Gerri Colombe the star of the show at Limerick Racecourse

The exciting Gerri Colombe puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick on St Stephen's Day where the classy Kilcruit is among his four rivals in the Grade 1 contest.

The race is named after the legendary Champion Hurdle winner who beat Samcro in this very event in 2019 and once again it looks a shootout between Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott who run two of their most promising young chasers in the race.

Gerri Colombe has not put a foot wrong in his entire career and jumped impeccably on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse last month when justifying favouritism in fine style under Jack Kennedy.

With Kennedy on duty at Leopardstown and Davy Russell announcing his retirement on Sunday, it is Jordan Gainford who comes in for the plum ride on Gerri Colombe. The six-year-old won his only point-to-point for Colin Bowe at Lingstown in 2020 and is four from four under rules.

Kilcruit was just as impressive on his chasing bow at Punchestown and was third to Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Sean O'Keeffe, who guided Energumene to victory in the 2021 Hilly Way Chase, has been called up for the ride by Mullins with Paul Townend at Leopardstown.

The five-strong line-up for the Faugheen Novice Chase, the feature on day one of the four-day extravaganza at Limerick is completed by Adamantly Chosen, Authorized Art and Aarons Day.

Elliott certainly holds the key to the other Grade 1 on St Stephen's Day in Ireland as he is responsible for the top two in the market in the Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase (2.20) at Leopardstown.

The four-year-old Fil Dor made a flawless start to his chasing career at Navan, justifying his trainer's decision to send him over fences so early. On that occasion he was four lengths too good for Saint Roi who renews rivalry under Mark Walsh.

Elliott has also declared Hollow Games for the highlight of the opening day of the Leopardstown Christmas festival. The classy novice hurdler from last season also won his beginners chase at Navan and will be looking to give Noel and Valerie Moran of Bective Stud a second Grade 1 after Ginto landed the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle last year.

Just as it the case with the Grade 1 at Limerick, there are also five runners standing their ground at Leopardstown with the rest of the field consisting of the Peter Fahey-trained Visionarian, Joseph O'Brien's Midnight Run and the aforementioned Saint Roi.

Triumph Hurdle favourite Lossiemouth, who made such a sparkling Irish debut at Fairyhouse earlier this month, is the star name on show in the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle (1.10) at Leopardstown.

She was seriously impressive there but faces a tough assignment here with no fewer than ten rivals to take on, including the unbeaten Cougar who has looked a natural on his two starts over hurdles so far for Paudie Roche and Mark Walsh.

The seven-race card at Leopardstown kicks off at noon, while the first of seven races at Limerick is at 12.25. There is also action at Down Royal on St Stephen's Day where former Grade 1 winner The Storyteller is set to tackle the McMahon McKay Hospitality And Leisure Hunters Chase (2.33). The first race there is due off at 11.40.

December 27

Facile Vega is fast becoming a household name and the unbeaten young star is coming to Leopardstown on Tuesday to put his unbeaten record on the line in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (1.45).

Last season's Champion Bumper winner at the Cheltenham Festival made a breath-taking start to his jumping career at Fairyhouse earlier this month when making all the running and cruising to a 14-length victory. He is already a red-hot favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle next March and is generating a massive following.

He has won his five races by a combined winning distance of 37 lengths and runs in the familiar red and blue silks of the Hammer & Trowel Syndicate who enjoyed great success with the mighty mare Quevega.

Willie Mullins is responsible for four of the six runners with the similarly unbeaten Intranet, Ashroe Diamond and Il Etait Temps completing his quality quartet. The champion trainer has won the race five times since 2015.

Mighty Potter did the business in the race last year for Gordon Elliott who relies upon the hat-trick seeking Itswhatunitesus this time.

The six-time Grade 1 winner Chacun Pour Soi will bid to win the Paddy Rewards Club Chase (1.10) for a second time under Paul Townend where stablemate Blue Lord, a recent winner of the Clonmel Oil Chase, looks his biggest danger.

There is a typically competitive maximum field of 28 for the Paddy Power Chase (3.00), worth a tasty €110,000 to the winner, and Rachael Blackmore teams up with the Henry de Bromhead-trained Ain't That A Shame who was just touched off in the Munster National at Limerick last time.

Day two of the Leopardstown Christmas festival gets going at 12.05, while the party continues at Limerick where the first of seven races goes off at 12.19.