July Flower aiming to bloom at Leopardstown

July Flower will try to take advantage of Kopek Des Bordes’ absence in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Willie Mullins’ Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner will sit out of the Grade One contest but it is sure to remain a red-hot event with Gordon Elliott’s Drinmore hero Romeo Coolio assuming favouritism.

However, Henry de Bromhead is also keen to take his chance after watching his star mare excel in her two chasing outings so far.

“She’ll run in the Grade One novice that was gone last year but is back now,” said De Bromhead.

“She won at Limerick and won well, then went to Cheltenham for the Arkle Trial and was good there and she’s a mare we like a lot. She’s done little wrong over fences.”

De Bomhead is sure to play some of his ace cards over the course of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival and he could hold a strong hand in the three-mile Christmas Hurdle, with Stayers’ Hurdle hero Bob Olinger and Aintree Grade One winner Hiddenvalley Lake both possible runners.

“Bob Olinger won the Stayers’ Hurdle and I think we’re heading that way,” said De Bromhead on the prospects of an outing at the Dublin track.

“It’s either that or the race at Cheltenham he won a couple of years ago (Relkeel Hurdle, New Year’s Day) and he does have a great record at Cheltenham, but we’ll see nearer the time.

“He does have a Grade One penalty at Cheltenham whereas he would be off levels at Leopardstown, but we’ll have to balance that all out and see. He’s in good form.

“Hiddenvalley Lake could also go and a flat, left-handed track like Aintree, he would like that.”

Also giving the Knockeen handler a decision to make is another of his Robcour-owned inmates, Heart Wood.

After a winning return at Punchestown, he was last seen finishing down the field in the John Durkan and now has the option of joining Monty’s Star in the feature Savills Chase in the Irish capital or heading to Tramore for the New Year’s Day race won by the yard’s Minella Indo (2023) and Jungle Boogie (2024) in recent years.

De Bromhead added: “He was well beaten in the John Durkan and it was such a good race, it was mad when you think about it.

“It was a savage race and he looked to be on his head the whole way. He’s got the option of the Savills or Tramore where the €50,000 bonus is, so we might be tempted by that.”