Christmas eye-catchers: Ten who caught the eye in defeat

Race: Third in the "Get Your Ladbrokes Free Kempton Bet" Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (12.45 Kempton: Fri, Dec 26).

HA: This mare produced some useful form in bumpers and over hurdles, including when defeating La Pinsonniere with ease at Southwell last season.

That rival was only narrowly denied in a valuable contest at Newbury next time out in a race which Harry Derham’s charge disappointed, despite being sent off a leading fancy, but she possibly found the ground too fast there. 

The six-year-old was given a wind op ahead of her belated return here, and although she was weak in the market, she produced a pleasing performance on her chasing debut against race-fit rivals.

Racing enthusiastically, and producing some extravagant leaps, didn’t help her cause, while the lack of a recent run probably caught her out in the closing stages.

This effort should have taken the freshness out of her and, given her size and scope, it is wise to believe she will progress further over fences.

Race: Second in the Signsplus Maiden Hurdle (12.58 Limerick: Fri, Dec 26).

AS: I was looking forward to seeing Laurets d'Estruval make his Irish debut at Limerick last week and, though he was fairly weak in the market, he ran encouragingly, only finding the race-fit Starting Fifteen too strong after the final flight.

Second on his only French start in December last year at Pau (the winner has won four times since, including a Listed chase by 12 lengths last month), Laurets d'Estruval was ridden more prominently on this occasion and travelled well on the heavy ground, just tiring late on and getting in tight to the last.

This was really encouraging, especially since he had been off the track for over a year and many horses from the yard have been needing their first run back. The winner had given the hugely promising Talk The Talk (more on him shortly) a bit of a race last time out, too.

By Saint Des Saints out of a Nickname mare who was placed in Stakes company over fences at Auteuil, he is bred to be a chaser and anything he does this year is a bonus. With this run under his belt, he is up to landing a similar event next time and will stay further.

Race: Third in the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase (1.20 Kempton: Fri, Dec 26).

HA: Last year's Coral Challow Novices' Hurdle runner-up was unlucky not to finish closer in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle two starts later where he suffered interference en route to finishing fifth. 

With strong hurdles form next to his name, it was no surprise hopes were high heading over fences this season, and Jamie Snowden's talented performer impressed when landing the Coral John Francome Novices' Chase in November.

Stepping back up to three miles appeared a positive beforehand here, but Wendigo found things happening too fast on good ground, and was on the backfoot a long way from home.

It was probably to his credit his still managed to finish third, and he clocked the highest FSP (109.91%), according to the RaceiQ data. 

He looks a thorough stayer, and the return to a stiffer test, and softer conditions, is certain to suit. 

A best-priced 20-1 is now available for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, and if the ground was ideal for him in March, he would be a lively outsider there. He remains an exciting prospect for his enthusiastic owners.

Race: Third in the Racing Post Novice Chase (2.20 Leopardstown: Fri, Dec 26).

AS: Henry de Bromhead's mare has taken well to fences this season and she came into this contest with two wins from as many starts over the bigger obstacles. Although she was comfortably beaten by Romeo Coolio and Irish Panther, she lost very little in defeat and there are some good races to be won with her this season over a longer trip.

A £350,000 purchase from Goffs last year, July Flower was an AQPS Grade One winner on the Flat at three in France and placed at the top level on a couple of occasions over obstacles, including in the French Champion Hurdle over an extended 3m1f.

It was therefore particularly impressive that she coped so well with the drop back to two miles in the Arkle Trial at Cheltenham's November Meeting, where she got the better of Be Aware and Burdett Road.

Prominent throughout in Dublin last week, she stuck to her task well and recorded a highly impressive RaceiQ Jump Index of 9.6, but ultimately found the level of opposition too tough over the 2m1f trip.

She would be of serious interest should she line up against her own sex instead of taking in the Arkle and is as short as 7-1 for the Mares' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival over a more suitable 2m4f on the New Course, but bet365 go 12-1, which seems too big.

Race: Second in the Paddy Power I Have No Idea What Day It Is 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle (12.05 Leopardstown: Sat, Dec 27).

AS: With Saturday's run under his belt, Ole Ole is now qualified for a run in the Fred Winter in March, a race in which his trainer Gavin Cromwell saddled the runner-up last season. However, frustratingly for those that have backed him in his three starts in Ireland so far, he has found one too good on each occasion.

Third on his only French start, he was keen on his Irish debut and again found one too strong next time, where the slow pace did not suit him, but he appreciated the slightly quicker surface at Leopardstown at the weekend, posting a career best effort.

Ridden more patiently this time by Keith Donoghue, who carried 1lb overweight, he looked the likely winner as they jumped the final flight, but was just headed late on by Hardy Stuff, who had finished fourth behind Ole Ole at Punchestown last month. 

His finishing speed percentage of 106.01 was the highest in the race (it was 123.85 at Cork earlier in the month) and he may be seen to even better effect off a stronger gallop. He is certainly well up to winning a maiden of this level at the very least.

Race: Fell in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (1.47 Leopardstown: Sat, Dec 27).

AS: Half an hour after Joseph O'Brien saddled Solness to win the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase for a second successive year, he almost landed a Grade One double courtesy of Talk The Talk, only for the four-year-old to stumble after leading over the final flight in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle over two miles.

Held up towards the rear of the eight-runner field, he cruised into contention against the inside rail turning for home before Sam Ewing angled him out to challenge running down towards the last. The race looked to be between him and Skylight Hustle on landing, but Talk The Talk came crashing down, handing victory to Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy. 

Thankfully, Talk The Talk appeared to be none the worse and looks hugely exciting going forward. Second in the Goffs Hundred Grand Bumper on debut, a race that is working out well, he was two from two over hurdles before Saturday's unlucky defeat and his form looks solid. The son of Born To Sea is a best-priced 14-1 for the Supreme Novcices' Hurdle.

Race: Second in the Coral Welsh Grand National (2.50 Chepstow: Sat, Dec 27).

AS: Haiti Couleurs laid down a solid marker for the Gold Cup with an emphatic victory off 11st 13lb and a mark of 154 to win the Welsh Grand National on Saturday, but the runner-up O'Connell also delivered a career best performance and could be worth following in some of the top staying handicap chases this season.

Coming from mid-division, he recorded the fastest third-last and penultimate furlongs of the race and his cumulative time over the final three furlongs was quicker than any other horse. His FSP of 103.59% was the highest in the field according to RaceiQ.

A dour stayer, he finished second in the Eider in February and comfortably won the London National at Sandown earlier in the month, a victory which saw him carry a 4lb penalty at Chepstow.

Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith have their team in pretty good form and I suspect they will plot a similar campaign for this horse. He handles any ground and should remain very competitive off just a 2lb higher mark.

Race: Third in the Coral "Daily Rewards Shaker" Handicap Hurdle (12.30 Chepstow: Sun, Dec 28).

HA: I have had this five-year-old in my Racing TV Tracker for a while now, and it is a shade surprising he has not won a race yet following numerous eye-catching efforts in defeat. 

In his defence, he was a shade unlucky not to score at Ludlow two starts ago where he was hampered by the winner in the closing stages and, maybe surprisingly, was not awarded the race following a lengthy stewards' enquiry. Mel Rowley's charge also forfeited ground by challenging wide, and was given plenty to do, but still pulled nicely clear with a potentially useful performer.

It was a similar scenario at Chepstow where he was given a patient ride, and travelled strongly into contention in the straight. Bypassing the final three hurdles would not have helped his cause, and he would have beaten the first two home in a few more strides having again been given plenty to do. 

He takes a keen hold (he also wears a hood), so it is understandable why he has been ridden patiently, and I have no doubt this youngster remains nicely treated. He should be capable of getting off the mark in a similar race in the new year.

Race: Third in the Savills Chase (2.30 Leopardstown: Sun, Dec 28).

HA: There was plenty of discussion on social media following the Savills Chase, with the Boodles Cheltenham Gold cup market suddenly looking wide open following the outcome of this contest, and the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase. 

However, I thought dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs emerged with the most credit following the Leopardstown showpiece given it was his seasonal debut, and the lack of race fitness took a toll late on. 

He still appeared to travel with his usual zest, and I suspect he will improve plenty for this effort having bypassed the John Durkan due to a minor setback. 

Willie Mullins' star chaser failed to show his best in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup last season, but made amends when landing the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup in style, and while he will be ten when he heads to Cheltenham in March, he should be in the mix once more. 

He could be tough to beat again when he bids for a fourth successive Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival, and Mullins appeared pleased with his exertions in defeat here when chatting to Gary O'Brien on Racing TV (watch above).

There's not enough evidence to suggest he's on the decline just yet, so I've had a few quid on him at the 7-1 available for the Cheltenham Festival showpiece. 

Race: Fifth in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (3.05 Leopardstown: Sun, Dec 28).

HA: Jordans attracted significant support ahead of the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) at Leopardstown, and this effort hinted he can land a valuable prize over hurdles.

Rated 150 over fences, Joseph O’Brien’s seven-year-old had a pipe-opener at Fairyhouse in November when reverting to hurdles and finished a staying-on fifth here off a rating of 132. 

He made steady headway turning for home having raced in last, but had too much to do, and faced an impossible task from his position. The RaceiQ data shows he recorded the highest FSP (104.76%) and was a shade unlucky not to qualify for the Pertemps Final.

Jordans was good enough to finish runner-up in two Grade Ones over fences last season, and while switching back to chasing is an option now, connections will hopefully persevere with him over hurdles given his attractive mark.