Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting enters its third day on Sunday 28 December, with the Grade 1 Savills Chase the feature, a race which has so often had Gold Cup implications.
Matty Sutcliffe has a bet for you in that race, as well as two more, with another in Grade 1 company in the Christmas Hurdle.
Leopardstown Racing Tips (Sunday 28 December 2025)
Leopardstown’s card on the 28th includes the Grade 1 Savills Chase, a contest steeped in history with many Gold Cup prospects putting their form on the line. Matty has a best bet in that race and two more below.
1:55 Leopardstown – Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+) – Rocky’s Diamond 20/1 1pt EW 3 places
While this contest often goes to a short priced favourite with seven of the last ten market leaders (including joint) returning as winners, I’ve some minor concern regarding Ballyburn and Teahupoo that just about make it plausible to chance something else here.
I’m absolutely adamant that Ballyburn will prove better down in trip, and that this return to three miles where he’s 0-2 at will prove a disadvantage against his old foe Teahupoo. That said, Gordon Elliott has always been certain that Teahupoo is a better horse when fresh, and it remains to be seen how he’ll cope with this twenty eight day turnaround from what wasn’t the softest Hatton’s Grace.
The Yellow Clay would have to come on a fair bit from his seasonal debut in the Lismullen Hurdle where he failed to travel with much zest and you’d have to wonder whether his heavy fall at Punchestown last season has had any lasting effects, thus if there is anything to improve against the old guard then it may be the five year old Rocky’s Diamond.
The son of Altruistic made a successful chase debut in smart fashion at Galway earlier this season and lost little in defeat next time out when beaten a short head by Blizzard Of Oz at Wexford, before not looking all that comfortable around Punchestown in the Florida Pearl. He reverts to hurdles now with a visor attached, and should that aid successfully enable him to focus a touch more throughout his races then he wouldn’t have all that much to find with the protagonists. He was a nine lengths third in this race last season when rated just 130, though proved he was able to climb into graded company when a convincing winner of the G2 Galmoy Hurdle. He wasn’t disgraced at Cheltenham in the Stayers when behind Bob Olinger and Teahupoo, but he fared the best from the front there, leading until the home turn with the others prominent racers beaten 26L and 38L.
With another summer of strengthening up on his back, he can prove a much stronger animal back over hurdles for a yard operating at a 17% strike rate this season, with Queally’s son bang in form with ten winners from twenty five rides.
2:30 Leopardstown – Savills Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) – Fastorslow 4/1 1.5pt WIN
The two Gold Cup winners Inothewayurthink and Galopin Des Champs both have something to prove here, as the former only peaked in March as he did the year prior and he may need another run in to him before he hits top gear once more, and the latter returns fresh after a setback which put him out of his usual starting point in the John Durkan.
Fastorslow was some 23 lengths ahead of Inothewayuthinkin in the John Durkan when returning from a 364 day layoff and I thought it was a entirely respectable comeback in a race where only two appeared to in with any chance of winning from the offset.
That race should’ve blown off any cobwebs, and while he normally has the measure of Galopin Des Champs later on in the season, now may be the time to catch him against his old rival. He steps back up to three miles where his form reads 212UR1 with the ground in his favour, and it’ll be no surprise should he be absolutely primed for this.
3:05 Leopardstown – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) (4yo+) – Timeless Treaty 13/2 1pt WIN
The inform Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy won this with a five year old in Maxxum in 2022 and they look to have another good chance with Timeless Treaty, who could prove very well handicapped off a mark of 126 now stepping up in trip.
The Harland gelding won his first two starts over hurdles earlier this year under 7lbs claimer Paddy Cleary, beating 4/6F Fairbanks on debut who won next time out before beating Sticktotheplan at Punchestown, who’s franked that form healthily since to win the G2 Persian War now rated 140.
He was 4L behind Sticktotheplan at Galway in Listed company next time out and unseated at Bellewstown thereafter, but he was a big eye-catcher when returning from a 94 day break at Fairyhouse when given an awful amount to do from midfield, before staying on strongly to grab fifth.
That suggested a step up in trip could bring out an enormous amount of improvement, with the pedigree backing that up given he’s a half brother to strong stayer The Short Go.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Leopardstown Tips
1:55 Leopardstown – Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+) – Rocky’s Diamond 20/1 1pt EW 3 places
2:30 Leopardstown – Savills Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) – Fastorslow 4/1 1.5pt WIN
3:05 Leopardstown – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) (4yo+) – Timeless Treaty 13/2 1pt WIN
Matty Sutcliffe’s Leopardstown Tips – Sunday 28 December 2025
FAQs
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s Leopardstown tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s Leopardstown tips were published at 10.50am on Saturday 27 December.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival.
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