Racing/Leopardstown Festival: Edward O'Grady has given an upbeat bulletin on the chances of his former star hurdler Ned Kelly making the happiest Christmas return of all on St Stephen's Day.
Some of the cream of Irish National Hunt racing is set to appear over the holiday period including Europe's highest rated chaser Moscow Flyer, who will face a maximum of five opponents in Monday's Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Chase.
Before that, however, the Sunday feature at Leopardstown will be the Grade One Durkan New Homes Novice Chase, formerly the Denny, which had a total of 11 horses left in at yesterday's forfeit stage.
They include JP McManus's star mare Like-A-Butterfly, the 2003 AIG Hurdle heroine, who won her sole chase start to date and the easy Clonmel scorer Newmill. Noel Meade's Drinmore Chase winner Watson Lake is a notable absentee.
The most eye-catching entry, though, must be the 2002 AIG winner Ned Kelly, who is set to make his first start in over two years, and his first ever over racecourse fences, after a prolonged period of leg trouble.
"The plan is to run - even though I'm not there yet. It's never easy and we're taking it one day at a time. The staff at Coolmore, my own staff, and the vets have put in a lot of effort and patience with this horse but we have always felt, that with his ability, it was worth doing," said O'Grady yesterday.
Ned Kelly's last race was behind Limestone Lad in the 2002 Hatton's Grace Hurdle but earlier that year he had shot to the head of the Champion Hurdle betting with an ultra-impressive success in the AIG at Leopardstown. Injury, however, prevented him running at the festival.
"It looks a very good race at Leopardstown but the field will not be too big and that should make it a nice start for him," O'Grady added. "I think he will run a very good race. He is not 100 per cent fit but he is fit enough to give a very good account of himself.
"We're relying on his ability to make up for any possible lack of sharpness and you have to remember what a very good horse he was. I wouldn't run him if he wasn't ready and Davy Russell will ride."
Sunday's other feature is the Grade Two Juvenile Hurdle, which will see the Fairyhouse victor Stromstad try to follow up for the Co Dublin-based trainer Steve Mahon.
"I've been very happy with him since Fairyhouse," Mahon said yesterday. "He schooled on Saturday and Joey (Elliot) was delighted with him. I think he has come on for his last race."
Stromstad is set to renew rivalry with Don't Be Bitin who was runner-up at Fairyhouse as well as Kentucky Charm while the ex-John Oxx-trained Barati, third in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, is an entry for his new handler, Michael O'Brien.
The Naas trainer will also have a big interest in Limerick's Stephen's Day feature, the Grade Guinness Greenmount Novice Chase, with the Drinmore runner-up Forget The Past one of the 13 left in that contest.
Moscow Flyer will bid for three in a row in the Dial-a-Bet Chase which has been upgraded to Grade One status for the first time. Despite that, only six have been entered with Rathgar Beau again looking to put one over on his old rival.
Trainer Dusty Sheehy said yesterday: "We're going to take on Moscow Flyer again and with a bit of luck we'll go close. He is improving with every run and his confidence is getting better."
Monday's other highlight is the Future Champions Novice Hurdle, which could see the first three from the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse a month ago - Wild Passion, Rocket Ship and Royal Paradise - going head-to-head again.
The ground at Leopardstown is currently described as "soft" and although there is no significant rain forecast before the four-day holiday festival, a cold snap is expected.
"It's supposed to get very cold over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Stephen's Day but then the forecast is for it to get milder," said Leopardstown's racing manager Tom Burke.
"There is a little light rain expected on Wednesday but I don't see the ground changing much."
