Embarrassment of riches: Elliott finalising festive plans for ace novice chasers

Gordon Elliott is loading the bases in his bid to pull off a clean sweep in Ireland's Grade 1 novice chases on December 26, as the in-form trainer finalises festive plans for his crack team of youngsters at Leopardstown and Limerick.

The latest possible fields for the first two days of Ireland's Christmas festivals were revealed on Tuesday, and Elliott is responsible for the top two in the market for the 2m1f Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase at Leopardstown in the shape of Fil Dor (evens favourite) and Hollow Games (3-1).

The Cullentra House trainer, who has won no fewer than 19 novice or beginners' chases in Ireland this season, supplies 8-11 market leader Gerri Colombe in the 2m3½f Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick, but is also keeping open the tantalising prospect of Drinmore winner Mighty Potter running in the same race.

Willie Mullins can call on a possible five candidates for the €100,000 prize at Limerick, including Drinmore runner-up Gaillard Du Mesnil and ready Punchestown beginners' chase winner Kilcruit.

Mighty Potter: impressive winner of the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Elliott said: "Gerri Colombe and Mighty Potter might go to Limerick. It's not definite yet for Mighty Potter but if he goes anywhere this Christmas, it'll be to Limerick.

"If the ground turned out to be bottomless there, that would be the worry. We'll see. Hopefully Gerri will come on for his first start over fences at Fairyhouse, where he was very good."

Elliott is responsible for four of the nine possible runners in the Grade 1 novice chase at Leopardstown on Monday, while Mullins has the option of running Saint Roi and Dysart Dynamo. The latter is also entered in the 2m1f Paddy Power Beginners Chase at Leopardstown on December 27.

"I'd imagine Hollow Games and Fil Dor will go to Leopardstown," said Elliott. "It was hard to pick holes in what Hollow Games did at Navan last time and Fil Dor didn't put a foot wrong on his first start over fences there either."

Unbeaten star Facile Vega could be set for a Leopardstown Christmas festival appearance after being left in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle on December 27.

Facile Vega: unbeaten in five starts for Willie MullinsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Already a general 11-10 favourite for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, last season's Champion Bumper scorer rates a standout contender for the race previously won by stars such as Istabraq (1996), Hurricane Fly (2008) and more recently Sizing John (2014).

A total of nine have been kept in contention for the Grade 1, including Facile Vega's talented stablemates Il Etait Temps, Intranet and Ashroe Diamond.

Chacun Pour Soi, Blue Lord and Gentleman De Mee could fly the flag for the champion trainer in the Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club Chase over 2m1f on December 27, with Energumene not among the eight confirmations.

Lossiemouth: ante-post favourite for the JCB Triumph HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

There are bound to be JCB Triumph Hurdle clues to be gleaned from the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 26, with six of the top seven in the Cheltenham Festival ante-post listings engaged.

Impressive Fairyhouse Grade 3 winner Lossiemouth, the 11-4 favourite for the Triumph, may face off against promising fellow three-year-olds Cougar, Nusret, Comfort Zone, Blood Destiny and Gala Marceau.

One-time Derby favourite and Group 1 runner-up High Definition, who joined Joseph O'Brien from Ballydoyle in October, could make his hurdles debut for owner Sue Magnier in the 2m maiden hurdle for four-year-olds on December 26 at Leopardstown.

Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle (Leopardstown, December 26)

Paddy Power: 4-5 Lossiemouth, 7-2 Cougar, 5 Gala Marceau, Nusret, 7 Blood Destiny, 8 Comfort Zone, 10 Mctigue, 16 Jourdefete, 20 Common Practice, 25 bar

Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase (Leopardstown, December 26)

Paddy Power: 4-5 Fil Dor, 3 Hollow Games, 5 Saint Roi, 8 Dysart Dynamo, 10 Mighty Potter, 14 Three Stripe Life, 25 bar

Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase (Limerick, December 26)

Paddy Power: 4-6 Gerri Colombe, 9-4 Kilcruit, 5 Mighty Potter, 10 Gaillard Du Mesnil, Three Stripe Life, 16 Minella Crooner, 25 bar

Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Leopardstown, December 27)

Paddy Power: 1-4 Facile Vega, 5 Irish Point, 13-2 Il Etait Temps, 7 Intranet, 10 Ashroe Diamond, 14 Imagine, 25 Path d’Oroux, 40 Amir Kabir, Itswhatunitesus

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