RACING JOURNALIST JOHNNY Ward gives his best antepost tips – along with the latest BoyleSports odds and offers – as he reviews this year’s festive programmes at Leopardstown and Limerick.

We had absolute domination by one trainer at Leopardstown.

Take this in: Willie Mullins won every graded race on the card on three of the four days. That is the way of Irish racing.

Gordon Elliott rallied on day three with three winners; Henry de Bromhead was hardly sighted, with A Plus Tard scratched for the Savills Chase.

As we look ahead to the new year — and to Cheltenham — we have to find horses still under the radar. Here are five:

Brazil (100-1, Champion Hurdle)

Brazil was a revelation in the Fred Winter in March, overcoming bad traffic to still win the handicap for four-year-olds. He was beaten at odds-on when an apparent shoe-in at Limerick on Thursday, but the stable form is questionable and the ground was terrible. He is far better than that and on offer at huge odds. He clearly thrives around Cheltenham and his owner, JP McManus, is lacking runners in the race.

Dawn Rising (12-1, Ballymore)

There was no getting away from the regard Henry de Bromhead has for this horse. He won a very strong maiden, with a really classy favourite left for dead, and de Bromhead is waiting for him to step up in trip. He looks extremely talented. The fact he was sent off such a short price in a race in which a couple of horses were fancied speaks volumes.

Gentlemansgame (16-1, Brown Advisory)

The look of Mouse Morris when he talks about this horse is telling. “He wants three miles,” he said after he won a strong maiden at Leopardstown. “Look at him; how would you not know he’s a good horse?”

The trainer of War Of Attrition knows a good one. He is going to go off much shorter come the day. He will step up in class and progress in the interim.

Tekao (16-1, Triumph Hurdle)

This horse has far more ability than he has shown. A classy winner over a shorter trip in France, he is crying out for a strong pace. He is 16s for the Triumph but look out for a price for the Fred Winter. He is winning by narrow margins and will be well-handicapped. He needs a strong pace to settle and show his turn of foot.

Vauban (10-1, Champion Hurdle)

Also a contender. For a horse who had been under a cloud this season, the class he showed to give State Man a race of sorts was utterly compelling. He showed a serious turn of foot in the Triumph and there is only one race open to him. A horse of huge ability.

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