The briefing: key betting news, going and non-runners

The festive action rolls on, with day three of Leopardstown's four-day Christmas festival providing a brace of Grade 1 highlights.

Thistlecrack laid down a mighty marker for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup with his King George victory, and now the heavyweights of the Irish jumping scene attempt to deliver a riposte in the Lexus Chase.

Valseur Lido looked exciting when strolling home in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal last month and he faces a seasoned Grade 1 performer in Djakadam, who won the John Durkan last time out.

Wednesday cards

Don Poli won the Lexus last year, but has questions to answer after an insipid display behind Valseur Lido.

Willie Mullins decided against sending Vroum Vroum Mag to Kempton for the Christmas Hurdle over 2m, but she is odds-on to win the Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle over 3m.

The versatile mare should take all the beating, but faces the interesting Kotkikova. Now with Nicky Henderson, the mare was dominant when trained in France and it will be fascinating to see how she fares.

Today's big races

Leopardstown 1.50: Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1)
Limerick 2.15: Irish Independent Hurdle (Listed)
Leopardstown 3.00: Lexus Chase (Grade 1)

Going update

Catterick: OFF
Leicester: Chase: Good to Firm, Good in places. Hurdle: Good to Soft, Soft in places. Good to Soft on the Flat course crossings.
Leopardstown: Yielding
Limerick: Heavy
Lingfield: Standard

Market movers

Leopardstown 1.20: Acapella Bourgeois 3-1 (from 7-2)
Leopardstown 3.00: Djakadam 7-4f (from 15-8f)
Leicester 3.40: Timoteo 11-4f (from 100-30f)

Key non-runners

None to report