Johnny Ward: My ten best bets for Monday's racing in Ireland

Happy Christmas to you all, even if you don't believe in the whole thing, and just want racing to commence on Monday!

Tis the season and all of that, but there's no doubt that Boxing Day is one of the best days of the year to wager on horses.

It's also a day when, a little tender from the excesses of Christmas Day, one can get frustrated quickly, so do remember to gamble responsibly.

Thanks for all your reading throughout the year. I've never tipped ten horses here before; what can possibly go wrong…?

Enjoy all the action on the channel's dedicated YouTube service, and best of luck with your bets.

It is roughly a ten-hour-round trip for John Murphy to Down Royal; would he inflict the pain on his staff having to leave West Cork at around 4am in the morning if they weren't hopeful of a winner, especially as the yard has so few jumpers?

I thought this Farrh-bred gelding ran a blinder at Cork last time out where he travelled really well against smart horses and based upon his Flat form, this trip can only be more suitable.

I'm not sure why this selection is chalked up at an each-way price, but I'm certainly not complaining.

He’s a brother to four-time winning hurdler Magnor Glory (already rated 133) and he was quite smart in bumpers plus was only sent off at 13-2 in a Listed race at Cheltenham on his return. I'd make him favourite here.

The horse switched from Brendan Duke to Martin Brassil last year and that was certainly eye-catching, as was the latter's decision to send him to compete in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle where he was far from disgraced.

Doctor Brown Bear’s previous form reads really well, and he has to get involved here if ready.

This is one of the races of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival!

Ireland has an incredible depth of juvenile talent right now and that is a concern if you are backing Cougar, but he appeals as a really classy horse.

Fair enough, the form of his run at Down Royal isn't special, but he pulled hard nearly the whole way, and I reckon there's a lot more left under the bonnet.

Another horse who looks a wild price based upon his hurdles form.

The tongue tie makes sense here as he hasn't really been finishing his races, but if he takes to fences, he's more than good enough to get involved for a yard in great form.

I'm taking a bit of a chance on A Million Bucks given his handicap debut was underwhelming, but if you stop the video two out at Galway, only this son of Yeats, Path D'oroux and Iswhatuitesus were in the picture.

In the context of his mark, that is pretty sensational form, and there should be more to come.

It is rare I'd even contemplate tipping a hitherto longstanding maiden who finally won off a rating in the 60s last time out, but that was not a bad race at all for the grade, and he hacked up.

His stamina is key here as Know The Game, his main market rival, looks a suspect stayer.

A mare who was far shorter odds last time and presumably this was the plan since then as she competes against her own sex.

She's still quite lightly raced and looks far too big at the 20-1 on offer.

I really like this horse at the prices and he is my nap of the day. The Bowes won't mind me saying that Solerina has been no star in the paddocks; six of her offspring have seen the track and the best of them has been Jamie Sommers, who managed four wins from 68 starts.

Halsafari is probably more talented, though, and he lost an awful lot of ground at Fairyhouse when his rider seemed intent on keeping him out of trouble.

It should have done his confidence no harm and he's always appealed as a horse who will be suited by this trip.

With the pace angle here, he should canter through the race under a rider doing well.

The first time John Joe Walsh hasn't had his name on the Limerick racecard in many a Christmas gone. His son Brendan will be keen to make his mark and I thought this mare jumped fine until her fall at Navan.

This isn’t the strongest race, and she’s worth siding with.