1.25 Leopardstown
woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner €26,000
Advice: 6 pts place Monksland (4/6 Paddy Power), 1 pt win
Monksland (4/1 general)
Zaidpour: Built upon novice campaign in style last year when
winning first four races (Champion Hurdle too good for him on quick ground) but
exceptional record on soft or worse and first Grade 1 win came in style in
Hatton’s Grace on seasonal reappearance; 2lbs Grade 1 penalty to carry but
record on soft exceptional and so is record outside Grade 1 company’ Winner
over distance and the one to beat on form. 
Monksland: Impressive novice hurdler, marking himself down
as one to follow with impressive win in Slaney Novice Hurdle followed by third
in Neptune Novice Hurdle at the Festival; Been just as good this year,
overcoming mistake at last to win Grade 2 hurdle easily on debut and making
smart late headway to come second to Zaidpour in Hatton’s Grace; Looks set to
thrive over 3m and now 2lbs better off with him as well, so should go close. 
Owega Star: Top attitude shown at the end of Navan Grade 2
when finding enough to beat Maller Tree, although not gone any further than
2m4f and looked second best to the favourite when he fell (no match for that
rival the time before); Others make more appeal. 
Rigour Back Bob: More than enough class to get involved, 5th
in World Hurdle of 2011 (nothing was finishing faster on that occasion, and has
been second to Voler La Vedette at Navan and third in this race beforehand) and
two runs since falling at Punchestown have been more than good enough to give
him form hand; Interesting. 
Whatuthink: Took advantage of presumably very below par
Voler La Vedtte and excellent ride from Tom Doyle to when running out ready and
surprise winner of Lismullen Hurdle; Tried to do same without success last time
out and ended up 45 lengths behind Owega Star. 
Folsom Blue: Struggled on return considering what a smart
novice he was last term but better effort when trying to give 10lbs to a very
useful sort at Thurles last time; Still has a mountain to climb in this
company. 
So Young: Began to regain the spark that had seen him sent
off just 2/1 for 2011 Neptune Hurdle (third) in three wins last season before
Cheltenham Festival; Beaten easily in Hatton’s Grace and hard to fancy him. 
Maller Tree: Impressive on return at Naas in conditions
hurdle, but unproven over any more than 2m4f and then no match for Owega Star latest;
Others make more appeal. 
Voler La Vedette: : Class act of the field based on her win
in this last year, as well as her seconds in Championship 3m hurdles at the end
of last season at spring festivals (had Big Bucks in solitary moment of
trouble) but been shadow of that this season (breathing problem potentially to
blame), leading to the last in Hatton’s Grace before being well beaten; Others
make more appeal here although market move would be significant. 
Weapon’s Amnesty: Would be able to pick these up and carry
them if here in the form that saw him romp the 2010 RSA Chase (Burton Port and
Long Run in behind and well beaten); Tremendous shame he’s been out for three
years and could only really be watched unless there are signs of something
different.
VERDICT: Following his convincing win in the Hatton’s Grace,
Zaidpour deserves respect and is the one to beat, but MONKSLAND looked like
he’d really improve for a step up in trip and gets that today with the added
benefit of a 2lbs pull for a 2 and half-length beating, so is the value at 4/1
to overturn that form, with odds of 4/6 for a top three finish looking like a
strong bet. A back to form Volder La Vedette is a huge threat but there’s no
way of being able to trust her on this season’s form and even if back to her
best, our choice is a strong one. Another fascinating angle to the race is added by the return of one-time Gold Cup hope Weapon's Amnesty.
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