Ireland to the rescue for jumps fans as Doncaster falls to cold snap

With Doncaster joining Kelso in abandoning, there will be no jump racing in Britain today but racing fans are still extremely well catered for with Faugheen headlining the last day of Leopardstown's Christmas meeting.

After a first check at 7am, officials at Doncaster held a second inspection at 9am but were forced to call off the fixture due to "frozen parts of ground and a deteriorating forecast".

That blow will be soften somewhat by the prospect of another classy card at Leopardstown. The Christmas meeting has certainly provided plenty of talking points and arguably its biggest star Faugheen has his chance to prompt debate over his Unibet Champion Hurdle claims when lining up at the track today.

He is no longer favourite for the Cheltenham highlight he won in 2015 - Tuesday's Christmas Hurdle winner Buveur D'Air heads the market to retain his crown - but a big performance from Willie Mullins' ace could shake things up.

The Ryanair Hurdle Faugheen runs in is undoubtedly the highlight of Leopardstown's card, which also includes the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase.

Limerick is the other Irish track hosting action, while Southwell stages an all-weather Flat card in Britain.

Going report

Southwell - 12.15 first race
Standard

Leopardstown - 12.20
Chase - Yielding to soft (from yielding, soft in places); Hurdle - Soft (from soft, yielding in places)

Limerick - 12.30
Heavy

Doncaster - Abandoned

Kelso - Abandoned

Market movers

12.45 Southwell: A Few Good Men 5-1 (from 9)

12.50 Leopardstown: Someday 11-4 (from 3)

3.00 Southwell: Scotch Myst 9-4 (from 3)

What to back

Tom Segal has his pearls in Pricewise, while Paul Kealy analyses the favourites to focus on.

David Jennings provides the best bets from Ireland and Maddy Playle has the ten-second tip ...

What to read

Opening Show reflects on what may lie ahead if Faugheen wins and sets up a mouthwatering clash with Buveur D'Air in the Champion Hurdle.

Previews of the Leopardstown feast can be found here and all the fallout from yesterday's card here.

John Randall, meanwhile, has taken a look back at some of 2017's record breakers.

What to watch

Your star of the year? Here are ours ...

... and some expert advice from our Postcast team

The best of Racing Post Sport

Mark Langdon reflects on the appointment of Swansea's new boss Carlos Carvalhal and Dan Childs tackles Cardiff v Preston.

Final thought

Willie Mullins could probably do with a pick-me-up and if he could rely on one horse to do just that, it would probably be Faugheen - they don't call him the machine for nothing.

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