Can Bob Olinger earn poignant win for De Bromhead? Key Christmas Hurdle quotes

Wednesday: 1.45 Leopardstown
Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m | 4yo+ | RTE/RTV

This division is all over the place at the moment but if Monday's rescheduled Long Walk Hurdle told us anything, it was that the old guard still has plenty to offer in the new world of staying hurdling.

Paisley Park taught the new dogs a few tricks at Kempton and Flooring Porter could do likewise if he were able to reach the level that saw him land the last two runnings of the Stayers' Hurdle from the front.

In this race last year he was caught on the hop by Klassical Dream, who burst out of the traps before the hare had passed them. The ground conceded at the start was never made up but it was a fine effort in defeat by Flooring Porter.

There is the nagging doubt that Flooring Porter's big day might not be until March, then again, he won this race in 2020 when he produced an RPR of 167. He performed only 1lb lower than that when runner-up last year, according to RPRs. He now has seven performances in the 160s and will take some stopping.

The presence of Bob Olinger adds a new level of intrigue. He has tried 3m once, when a busted flush in the Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown in April, so it will be fascinating to see how he gets on over the distance this time.

The brilliant winner of the 2021 Ballymore hit a low of 1.03 in running on Betfair in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan last month but was outstayed by Home By The Lee. Was it just race-fitness that caught him out or is there a deeper issue?

Home By The Lee: beat Bob Olinger in the Lismullen HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

The flip side of the argument is that maybe we didn't give Home By The Lee enough credit for what he did at Navan. It was a dour staying performance from a seven-year-old on the up. Who knows how far he could go over 3m?

Zanahiyr disappointed in the Lismullen Hurdle but he was found to have a wound to his right-fore cannonbone, so perhaps it is best to put a line through that performance. Everything about him suggests the further he goes the better he will be and he was third to Honeysuckle in last season's Champion Hurdle.

This is an intriguing race and maybe, just maybe, it is the day Bob Olinger reminds us of how good he is.

Will the real Bob Olinger turn up?

Henry de Bromhead thinks the way Bob Olinger powered up the hill to beat Gaillard Du Mesnil and Bravemansgame in last year’s
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle suggests he will have no problem staying three miles a race named in honour of De Bromhead's son Jack, who died in tragic circumstances in September.

It looked for a long way on his return to action in the Lismullen Hurdle last month that Bob Olinger retained a lot of the ability he showed in that breathtaking Ballymore display. But what happened from the last to the line is the worrying part as Home By The Lee swept by.

Henry de Bromhead: aiming for victory in the race named after his son JackCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

That was his first start since April, so he was entitled to need it and his trainer is looking forward to seeing how Bob Olinger gets on over this newish trip.

De Bromhead said: "He seems to be in great form at home and I’ve been very happy with him of late. It was always the plan to come to this race after Navan and hopefully he will come on for that run.

"As regards whether he will stay three miles or not, he didn’t look to be stopping at the end of the Ballymore, did he? Rachael [Blackmore] couldn’t pull him up that day."

What they say

Noel Meade, trainer of Beacon Edge
It was the plan to bring him back over hurdles after his last start over fences at Down Royal. It's probably a big ask against some very good horses but we'll see how he gets on. He was right behind Flooring Porter coming to the last in the 2021 Stayers' Hurdle before he probably didn't quite see it out [finishing fourth]. He's run some nice races over hurdles.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Commander Of Fleet, Sire Du Berlais and Zanahiyr
We've been looking forward to stepping Zanahiyr up in trip and I think you can safely put a line through his performance in the Lismullen Hurdle. We all know he's much better than that. Sire Du Berlais seems to come alive in the spring, while Commander Of Fleet pops up every now and again and wins a big one. I'm not sure that day is going to be today, though.

Gavin Cromwell: trainer of dual Stayers' Hurdle winner Flooring PorterCredit: Patrick McCann

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Flooring Porter
We're looking forward to running him and he goes there in good nick. There's a great field involved, so it should be a strong race. He's in a similar type of place to where he was this time last season heading to Leopardstown. He seems a bit tighter-looking than he did heading to Navan. I'm happy with him.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Home By The Lee
He's come out of his run in the Lismullen well. We thought he'd run very nicely at Navan and thankfully he did; he saw it out well. We're looking forward to running him.

Wednesday's previews:

1.10 Leopardstown: Gordon Elliott saddles ten runners in Pertemps qualifier - but who's the pick?

2.20 Leopardstown: Conflated spearheads Gordon Elliott trio in bid for more Savills Chase glory

2.55 Leopardstown: Talented I Am Maximus out to follow in Galopin Des Champs' footsteps for Mullins

3.10 Leicester: Girl power: Dame Du Soir and Ile De Jersey bid to beat the boys in Silver Fox

Limerick: 'We have a lot of time for her' - chase debut for Mullins ace Allegorie De Vassy

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