Nap of the Day: Lazare to star in Leopardstown opener

I had it between Manoir De Mirande, who was dire in the opener at Leopardstown, and Skylight Hustle, the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle hero, for the Nap of the Day on Saturday. Guess who I opted for?

There can't be a repeat of that on Sunday, for my shortlist was quickly whittled down to just one, for the same connections of the horse I should have put up 24 hours earlier. Hopefully it's another good day for them.

It's the Gordon Elliott show.

The Cullentra handler is bossing things over in Ireland at the moment. He saddled six winners on Boxing Day, including a Grade 1 courtesy of exciting novice chaser Romeo Coolio and five on Saturday - another at the highest level.

It's been a cracking Christmas for the yard, and I don't expect things to let up anytime soon.

LAZARE DE STAR is one of three for Elliott in the opener at Leopardstown on Sunday - a four-year-old maiden hurdle over 2m4½f - and I expect him to take a bit of beating.

The pick of Jack Kennedy, the four-year-old son of Masked Marvel fetched €190k at the sales after finishing runner-up in a point-to-point back in April this year and made a highly-encouraging start under rules at Navan earlier this month.

Over an unsuitable two miles, he gave Willie Mullins' highly-regarded, Grade 1-entered Saint Baco, sent off odds-on, plenty to think about in a maiden hurdle.

The selection was within four lengths of the winner in County Meath, and over 18 lengths clear of the rest of the 25-strong field. A smart piece of form, I suspect.

As has been true for many of Elliott's novice hurdlers, I'm expecting him to take a sizeable step forward on Sunday, especially over this longer trip.

By my reckoning, he comfortably sets the standard of the form horses and unless one of his stablemates - namely Tip Of The Wings and King Of Westeros - spring a surprise, it's Mullins' Mighty Park to beat.

The JP McManus-owned son of Walk In The Park has a fair reputation and in a 'normal' year, I'd be all over him at these prices. However, it's impossible to ignore the fact the Champion Trainer's debutants are running way below expectation.

If that happens again here, Lazare de Star should be more than capable of opening his account.

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