Willie Mullins' seriously impressive bumper winner meets Gordon Elliott's £410,000 purchase in clash of highly rated Supreme contenders

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The Racing Post Novice Chase headlines the opening day of Leopardstown's Christmas meeting but there is plenty to note elsewhere on a day that also features cards at Limerick and Down Royal. Conor Fennelly picks out five things to note away from the feature race at the Dublin track.

1. Cracking opener

Kopek Des Bordes, Klassical Dream and Coney Island all went on to land Grade 1 races after taking the opening 2m maiden hurdle (12.05) at Leopardstown and this looks a cracking edition. Gordon Elliott's unbeaten bumper runner Ballyfad locks horns with Leader D'Allier, a Flat winner in France who arrives with a big reputation for Willie Mullins.

Tim Toe and Shoda add further intrigue, and it is the former who could prove the value. He was a very impressive winner of a Thurles bumper for Pat Doyle before being beaten at long odds-on on his first run for Henry de Bromhead at Gowran. However, the ground was extremely testing there and he could prove a different proposition in these conditions.

2. El Cairos v Doctor Du Mesnil

If the opening race does not get the pulse racing, the following maiden hurdle (12.35) surely will as two potential stars clash in El Cairos and Doctor Du Mesnil.

El Cairos will have his first start for Elliott after changing hands for £410,000 at David Maxwell's dispersal sale. He looked highly promising in bumpers last season, shaping well at Cheltenham before finishing up with a cracking runner-up effort at the Punchestown festival.

Doctor Du Mesnil put up a seriously impressive display on his only run, beating a subsequent winner by 11 lengths at Cork in April.

An authoritative victory from either of the big two would likely see them cut into single figures for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in March.

Mullins told Sporting Life: "Doctor Du Mesnil won a Cork bumper that is working out well and is by Doctor Dino. He jumps well and he should be capable of giving a good account of himself against some smart opposition."

Doctor Du Mesnil: The debut bumper winner has amassed a lofty reputation before his hurdling debut in the coming days

Doctor Du Mesnil has amassed a lofty reputation already

3. Barbizon out to cement Triumph credentials

The Grade 2 Changing Times Brewery Juvenile Hurdle (1.10) throws up a leading Triumph Hurdle contender most years and this looks a typically intriguing contest between those with experience and some fascinating newcomers.

Barbizon was rated 101 on the Flat and made a sparkling debut over hurdles for Elliott at Navan last month.

The trainer said: "I was delighted with him at Navan. He was a classy horse on the Flat and he seems to really enjoy jumping. This will tell us a lot more about him, but he's working well and I'm very happy with him."

Narciso Has made an encouraging Irish debut for Mullins when second to Mange Tout at Fairyhouse last month, while Ben Hur also looks a player for Noel Meade.

This year's Lingfield Derby Trial winner Puppet Master has his first go over hurdles for Ciaran Murphy, and North Shore, a winner on the Flat in France this summer, is another intriguing contender for Gavin Cromwell.

4. Donoghue with two big handicap hopes

True Testimony could be a handicap blot in the 2m novice handicap hurdle (1.45) for Ian Donoghue given she is 16lb lower over hurdles and arrives in cracking form after landing a competitive mares' handicap chase at Fairyhouse.

The County Meath trainer is having a cracking season with 18 winners and Lisnamult Lad, runner-up in last season's Topham Chase, also holds strong claims in the Racing Post Handicap Chase (2.55).

Lisnamult Lad was one of four Irish winners at Cheltenham on Saturday

Lisnamult Lad: heads to Leopardstown for Ian DonoghueCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"True Testimony came out of Fairyhouse well," said Donoghue. "Two miles could be a little bit of a worry for her, but she won well last time.

"Lisnamult Lad was never travelling at Cheltenham and he took a tired fall, so we gave him plenty of time. He seems back to himself and is in very good nick. Joey [Dunne] taking 7lb off will be a big help as he has a lot of weight."

5. Donnacha O'Brien trains his first jumper

Limerick's card is headlined by the Grade 2 Defender Novice Hurdle (1.33), in which the Paul Nolan-trained The Big Clubman looks the one to beat after finishing an excellent second in the Monksfield at Navan last month, which was his second run over hurdles.

In the opening three-year-old maiden hurdle (12.25), Royal Ascot and Breeders' Cup-winning trainer Donnacha O'Brien is set to have his first runner over jumps when Kilmeaden tackles hurdles. He won at Galway in the summer and reached a rating of 91 on the Flat in seven runs. JJ Slevin takes the ride.