Moscow Flyer to wing his way home with minimum effort

Christmas Festival Trainer's tipsJessica Harrington knows her best-in-Europe steeplechaser will come good on Monday - just

Christmas is an intensely busy time but already we're looking forward to Moscow Flyer running again in the Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on Monday.

He is going for three in a row in the race and even though he has been recently rated the best steeplechaser in Europe it will probably be a case of him scraping home in his usual fashion!

It's just the way Moscow Flyer is. He doesn't do more than he has to when he's in front so he won't be winning by 15 lengths or anything like it - despite what his price might be.

When he won the Tingle Creek at Sandown earlier this month he officially became the highest rated in Europe and that was a great boost to everyone at the yard. It feels like he's finally getting the recognition he deserves. He is far and away the best horse I've ever had. If I ever get one like him again, I'll be very lucky - except I don't think I am that lucky!

We decided to stay at home rather than run in the King George because of that Tingle Creek win. If he had been beaten we would have changed tack from the Queen Mother at Cheltenham, aimed him at the two-and-a-half-mile race at the festival, and gone for the King George. But that is not an issue now. Having said that, I'll be keeping a close eye on how Azertyuiop gets on.

I'm sending four horses to Limerick on Sunday but I'll be on duty at Leopardstown where Aye Aye Popeye runs in the feature, the Grade One Durkan New Homes Novice Chase.

Our fella keeps running into really good horses and has been runner-up to Like-A-Butterfly and Royal Alphabet. But he's a funny horse in that he runs better in the really good races. He may not win on Sunday but I can see him running into a place.

There's no question though that Like-A-Butterfly looks the one to beat. I was really impressed with her at Naas. She did it well and she was economical which is important. She should also have come on quite a bit for the run.

I don't have a runner in the Juvenile Hurdle but a horse I like in this is Thecaulofesker. He was certainly much more fluent when he won at Gowran last week than I am in trying to pronounce his name correctly!

It's a really good race, however. There wasn't much to dislike about the way Stromstad won at Fairyhouse in a Grade Three and there are others in there with a chance too. But Frank Ennis's horse is the one I'm happy to stick with.

I've got Django in the first race and even though it's a hot race with Martinstown, High Priestess and The Railway Man in it, we have a chance. He was a little disappointing in his last race but the ground was very tacky that day.

Down at Limerick in the Grade Two Chase I run Another Dollar, who won't be out of it judging by the way she won the last day. Cane Brake is a danger.

A lot will depend on what the weights do in Monday's Paddy Power Chase for our hope Hume Castle but Jack High, who won the Troytown, and Arthur Moore's horse, Jaquouille, really jump out at you in this.

Jaquouille has six lengths to make up on that form but I think it's important to remember how the Troytown is usually a really good yardstick for this race. Keeping those two on your side looks the best answer.

Tuesday will be all about the Lexus Chase and Best Mate coming back for another appearance at Leopardstown. It should be a formality for him. I know it might be a small field but that shouldn't make any difference. Best Mate can do his own thing. I remember last year he took it up a long way out and just went away. He is a hell of a chaser.

But if you want a hell of a race then wait until Wednesday's big hurdle. I couldn't believe it when I saw the ante-post betting and Macs Joy was a 7 to 2 third favourite because it looks like being so tough.

In a sense we're using this as a reconnaissance mission. After he beat Brave Inca at Down Royal he was well behind Harchibald in the Morgiana at Punchestown. But that was only a week after the North and it looks like it might have been a bit quick. Barry Geraghty certainly thinks so and the horse is in very good form again now.

But it's such a tough race. Solerina, on the ground, will be very difficult to beat but I thought that from the way Hardy Eustace ran behind her at Navan he would probably turn the tables next time.