December 29 / 14.30 Leopardstown

14.30

Yielding

Neville Hotels Hurdle (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £76956.52
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • 6 runners
RTE2
View Course
Neville Hotels Hurdle (Grade 1)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 121-11 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 155

Form & Verdict
Only defeat in five starts last term was in the mares' novices' at Cheltenham when she was conceding 5lb to a smart winner; impressively beat geldings in 2m4f Grade 1 at Aintree in April; workmanlike in winning a 2m1f Grade 3 at Down Royal; enhanced her reputation significantly with Morgiana defeat of State Man; no pushover for the Mullins' star now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Brighterdaysahead

11st 3lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Has form on most types of ground; took her Cheltenham Festival record to 0-3 with a defeat in the latest Champion Hurdle but that was a respectable effort without managing to confirm placings with Lossiemouth, who had played second fiddle in the Irish equivalent; record of 2-3 at about 2m4f includes an easy success in the Mersey at this meeting two years ago; very smart mare who holds leading claims at the weights.

2/1

2nd

7

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Brighterdaysahead

11st 3lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Has form on most types of ground; hasn't lived up to expectations at this meeting for the last two years, beaten by Golden Ace in the Grade 2 novice hurdle in 2024 and only fourth (weakening when hampered) in this contest in 2025; otherwise a very smart mare and produced one of her best performances in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown (2m, heavy) most recently, reversing December placings with Lossiemouth and registering a fourth Grade 1 success; leading contender, provided she transfers the form to this venue.

9/2

1st

5

1st Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

15:20 Leopardstown

Brighterdaysahead

11st 5lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Beat State Man in last season's Morgiana and gave a stunning performance to win the December Hurdle here by a huge margin; nowhere near that level when a remote fourth in an incident-packed Champion Hurdle; failed to regain her best when raised in trip at Punchestown, well held in third behind two of Lossiemouth's stablemates; outpointed by Lossiemouth here at Christnas but finished close enough to suggest she can provide a powerful challenge.

13/8

25/1

  • Place: £6.90

Form: -41433 CD

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Won Grade 3 Grimes Hurdle impressively at Tipperary in July and good fourth in Galway Hurdle; no match for Daddy Long Legs at Tipperary; reversed that form when a game third in the Morgiana.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 1

14:22 Wetherby

Winter Fog

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

11yo who appeared to be outstayed when fourth, beaten about 8l, in the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown (extended 2m7f, yielding) in May; however, that was still a good performance in today's context and he's fit from the Flat; possible player for top Irish stable.

8/1

4th

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 1

14:22 Wetherby

Winter Fog

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

11yo who appeared to be outstayed when fourth, beaten about 8l, in the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown (extended 2m7f, yielding) in May; however, that was still a good performance in today's context and he's fit from the Flat; possible player for top Irish stable.

8/1

14

(11)

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Newmarket

Winter Fog

8st 5lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: W P Mullins

Aged 11 but he's a seriously unexposed, dark horse on Flat; smart hurdles form in Grade 1s in August 2024-May 2025; three Irish maiden races are all he's contested on Flat, when runner-up twice last year (2m/1m6f) and winning by a short head this August (2m) but he's not been hit hard with this opening Flat mark and having Willie Mullins as his trainer demands respect.

12/1

Form: 1111-2 CD BF

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 169

Form & Verdict
Dominant at Grade 1 level in recent seasons apart from when no match for Constitution Hill in the 2023 Champion Hurdle and when beaten by Brighterdaysahead on his reappearance at Punchestown; should be sharper now and can probably gain revenge in the rematch; stable's form is a big concern.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

2nd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

18:40 Punchestown

State Man

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

made all, jumped well, 3 lengths ahead halfway, reduced lead after 4 out, pushed along and went clear again approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in

5/4

1st

3

2nd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

18:40 Punchestown

State Man

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

made all, jumped well, 3 lengths ahead halfway, reduced lead after 4 out, pushed along and went clear again approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in

5/4

4

11th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

State Man

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Beaten twice by Brighterdaysahead this season, flopping badly on the second occasion, and was gifted a third Irish Champion Hurdle last month as main rival Lossiemouth fell; won a substandard edition of this race last year and was no match for highly impressive Constitution Hill 12 months earlier; dependable in the main and has a voluminous Grade 1 tally but a second Champion Hurdle win looks far from certain; wears first-time headgear.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 10134- C

Last run: 366 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Recorded two Grade 3 wins in the first half of last season; struggled as the outsider of four in this race last year; absent since and faces a massive task in the circumstances.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 0y

15:05 Killarney

Fils Doudairies

11st 9lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Mostly hurdling this year and has faced some stiff competition but acquitted himself well at times; sole win over fences came in 2020 and pulled-up last chase start in January.

14/1

7th

8

3rd Jul 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:10 Tipperary

Fils Doudairies

11st 1lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Won this in 2023 but hasn't looked the force of old this year and arrives on the back of a low-key effort.

25/1

5th

1

6th Jun 2025

Good

2m 3f 203y

18:45 Clonmel

Fils Doudairies

11st 12lb

J: Finn Brickley

T: Gordon Elliott

Has plenty of back-class and didn't run at all badly in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham; however, it was off level weights when just ahead of My Gaffer last time and will need to run better to win this, even with Finn Brickley taking off 7lb.

7/2

Form: 304-22 CD BF

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Point-to-point and bumper winner who showed smart form over hurdles last season and reappeared with good second to odds-on stablemate Brighterdaysahead in 2m1f Grade 3 Down Royal contest; runner-up on chase debut at Navan last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

12:45 Aintree

King Of Kingsfield

11st 7lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Won three of first five races over fences, including a Grade 3 novice at Punchestown (2m2f, good to yielding) in October, but has made mistakes and run poorly at Cheltenham and Newbury since; perhaps he'll be revived by a break and cheekpieces, but he has plenty to find on the figures.

40/1

2

24th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 199y

Class 2

13:50 Cheltenham

King Of Kingsfield

11st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Won two in a row this summer when back over fences (2m2f/2m1f, good) and landed a Grade 3 novice at Punchestown (2m2f, good to yielding) last week; seems versatile ground-wise and he's a key player today.

9/4

Form: 1211-6 D BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
Sole defeat last season when second in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham, made amends with Grade 1 wins at Aintree and Punchestown; never going well on his reappearance in the Fighting Fifth; likely second-best of Mullins squad.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Mystical Power

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Second in last year's Supreme Novices' (2m) before 2m Grade 1 wins at Aintree and Punchestown; while he takes a big step up in trip today, his dam Annie Power was second in this race and last term's promise isn't forgotten; however, he's been extremely lacklustre in 2m Grade 1s the last twice.

16/1

6th

4

29th Dec 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

14:30 Leopardstown

Mystical Power

11st 12lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

Sole defeat last season when second in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham, made amends with Grade 1 wins at Aintree and Punchestown; never going well on his reappearance in the Fighting Fifth; likely second-best of Mullins squad.

12/1

Non-runners

Daddy Long Legs

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €53.30
Straight Forecast €76.37
Trifecta €150.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

State Man

RP RATINGS (IRE):

State Man

TOPSPEED:

State Man

POSTDATA:

State Man