Horse Racing Tips: Redemption for Ballyburn in Christmas Hurdle

Jumps racing holds sway across the UK and Ireland on Sunday with four meetings taking place across the afternoon as well as a flat meeting on the all-weather at Southwell. 

Among our Sunday horse racing tips is one for trainer Adrian Keatley who will be looking to build on a solid start to her jumping career.

13:20 Leopardstown - Kiss Will @ 7/4

KISS WILL had a respectable season last year over hurdles, winning two of his three starts, the most notable being a Listed Race at Perth toward the end of last season where on only his fourth start he travelled strongly throughout and pulled clear in the closing stages.

While he did not make much impact when up against stronger opposition in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, he showed that he has bags of stamina and very much looked one to follow over fences.

Things did not go entirely to plan on his chase debut last month, sent off as favourite he was a bit keen early on but travelled well. A slight mistake three out looked to drain momentum  and he looked to get outpaced in the closing stages, ultimately having to settle for third place.

He has a lot to learn but is lightly raced and will have progressed a lot for his previous run, while the step up in trip should allow him to showcase his staying ability and he should go well.

13:55 Leopardstown - Ballyburn @ 5/4

A star novice hurdler in 2024, things did not go as intended when switched to Chasing last season for BALLYBURN. While he won a Grade 1 chase at Leopardstown back in February, he was soundly beaten at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals, making jumping errors and looking to lack confidence.

However a switch back to hurdles on his reappearance last month seemed to bring out the best in him. He got squeezed to the back around half way but looked to be the Ballyburn of 2024 when rallying in the closing stages and was only denied the win in a photo finish. It was an eye-catching performance and it looks like a good starting point for the season ahead.

His record as a hurdler is outstanding, and while he will have to be on top of his game to hold off Teahupoo who denied him last time out, he should go well again back at his favourite track where he has a perfect record, three wins from three.

14:03 Catterick - Azahara Palace @ 5/2

After a reasonable career on the flat, AZAHARA PALACE has been switched to hurdling this winter and has taken to it rather well. She finished a respectable second place on her debut last month and followed that up with an impressive win at Hexham in challenging conditions.

In heavy going she ran prominently throughout and although her jumping was not always perfect, she looked much more polished than her debut run, staying on strongly in the closing stages, and looked to have a little bit still in hand.

While she obviously still has a lot to learn and will now have to defy a penalty for her win last time out, the early signs are positive and she looks to be one to keep an eye on.

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