The race of the season: Sizing John headlines crackerjack festive feast

Leopardstown Christmas Chase (Grade 1) | 5yo+ | 3m | RTE2/ATR

Cup conqueror Sizing John back for fifth Grade 1

Last season's star staying chaser will be bidding to stretch his sequence of Grade 1 wins to five in an intriguing renewal of this event, which used to be known as the Lexus Chase.

Winner of the Irish Gold Cup over today's course and distance in February, Sizing John went on to land the Cheltenham and Punchestown Gold Cups before impressing with a seven length win in the John Durkan Memorial Chase over 2m4f at Punchestown on his reappearance 18 days ago.

His trainer Jessica Harrington said yesterday: "We weren't sure how he would return after three tough races at the end of last season, but we were delighted with him in the John Durkan and everything has gone well since.

"He's in good form and it's all systems go for tomorrow. It's a strong renewal of the race but we're very happy with our horse."

Pros Strong claims on his Gold Cup-winning form and looked as good, if not better, than ever when winning at Punchestown this month.

Cons Hard to find any unless he fails to produce his best

Polar opposites: Mullins pair out to topple favourite

Yorkhill's presence in the line-up adds spice to the race with the hugely talented but if quirky seven-year-old tackling three miles for the first time since winning a point-to-point three years ago.

Beaten only once in four starts as a novice last season, he won the JLT Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival before his tendency to jump sharply left saw him get beat in the Grade 1 Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse, where he lost out by a neck to Road To Respect, who runs against him again today.

Andrea and Graham Wylie's chaser, who is having his first run of the season, has winning form at the track and trainer Willie Mullins believes the longer trip will suit the son of Presenting.

"On pedigree I see no reason why he won't get the distance," Mullins said.

Mullins is also represented by the uncomplicated Djakadam, who finished third in the race a year ago. Of Rich Ricci's stalwart, Mullins said: "Djakadam was beaten fair and square by Sizing John in the John Durkan and will need to have come on a good bit.

"We're hoping he'll show some improvement and again finish in the money."

Yorkhill pros Very talented performer who will be suited by the return to a left-handed track

Yorkhill cons Trying a new trip on his first start of the season and his first run out of novice grade and has plenty on his plate taking on Sizing John

Djakadam pros Solid performer in top-level races who has twice run second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup

Djakadam cons Has seven lengths to find with Sizing John on his run in the John Durkan Chase and it's hard to make a case for him reversing the placings

Outlander hoping to complete an elusive double

The Gordon Elliott-trained Outlander will be attempting to become the first back-to-back winner of the race since Beef Or Salmon won the event for the third time in 2005.

A year ago Outlander gave Jack Kennedy a first Grade 1 win and provided Elliott with a first success in the race.

He added another top level success at Down Royal last month when landing the JNwine.com Champion Chase but goes into today's race after a poor effort in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, in which he finished a remote third behind Bristol De Mai.

Speaking yesterday Elliott said: "We're happy with Outlander. He's in good form but it's never easy to predict how he will perform. He has two ways of running and we're just hoping he'll hit one of his good days."

Outlander (left) beats Road To Respect (right) in the JNWine.com Champion Chase at Down RoyalCredit: Alain Barr

Outlander is one of four runners for Gigginstown House Stud who will be seeking a fourth consecutive win in the race having won it with Road To Riches (2014) and Don Poli (2015), as well as Outlander last year.

Pros Won this last year and secured another Grade 1 at Down Royal last month

Cons Has proved unreliable mixing good performances with very poor ones and was beaten a long way last time.

First-time hood can make the difference for Road To Respect

Representing Noel Meade and Gigginstown House Stud, Road To Respect got his name on the Grade 1 scoreboard when getting the better of Yorkhill by a neck in the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse in April.

That win followed a handicap success at the Cheltenham Festival and on his most recent start the six-year-old ran Outlander to half a length in the Grade 1 JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

Meade, who has been successful in the race three times, said on Wednesday: "Road To Respect is in good form. He gets the trip and will appreciate the ground not being too testing."

He added: "We're putting a hood on him to help him relax early in the race. Sean [Flanagan] thought he took a bit out of himself at Down Royal last time."

Pros Progressed well in the second half of last season and every chance he will have come on from his good effort at Down Royal last time

Cons Has a bit to find on ratings and might have to settle for minor money

REST OF THE FIELD . . .

Alpha Des Obeaux can do better back on favoured surface

Wearing cheek-pieces for the first time is Alpha Des Obeaux, who was last of four in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree on his most recent start.

His trainer Mouse Morris said of the Gigginstown House Stud-owned seven-year-old: "He's running because we have some nice jumping ground – he hated the very testing conditions at Aintree."

Alpha Des Obeaux: won the Clonmel Oil Chase earlier this seasonCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Bryan Cooper, successful on Road To Riches in 2015 and Don Poli in 2016, rides for his former employers.

De Bromhead pair in flying form

Henry de Bromhead trains two horses for Gigginstown House Stud and Noel Fehily teams up with Valseur Lido, who will be making his first appearance since finishing fourth in this race a year ago, while this year's Galway Plate winner, Balko Des Flos, will be ridden by Denis O'Regan for the first time.

De Bromhead said: "Valseur Lido has been off a long time but he appears to be in very good form and has been working very well. Balko Des Flos is in good form and will appreciate the better ground following a couple of runs in testing conditions."

Gold Cup second Minella Rocco heads McManus trio

The trio represent owner J P McManus whose racing manager Frank Berry said yesterday: "Carlingford Lough likes Leopardstown and going back up in trip will suit. He ran okay last time but he's rising 12 and looks up against it.

Minella Rocco: wouldn't be far away if producing his second-placed effort in the Cheltenham Gold Cup

"It's great to have Edwulf after his bad experience at Cheltenham in March. It is a big ask, though, and we're just hoping he runs well and progresses from the race.

"Minella Rocco isn't the most consistent but Jonjo [O'Neill] is happy with him and his Gold Cup second to Sizing John would put him in with a chance."

Grade 1-winner Zabana hoping for more glory

The Andrew Lynch-trained eight-year-old, who beat Outlander in a Grade 1 novice chase at the 2016 Punchestown festival, is a course winner and finished third behind Outlander and Road To Respect in the Grade 1 JNwine.com Chase at Down Royal last month.

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