The 2m Grade 1 Matheson Hurdle headlines the fourth and final day of the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown on Sunday (14:30).
Coeur Sublime could not have been more impressive when bolting up at Down Royal last time out, so is fancied on the upgrade.
Trained by Gordon Elliott, the four-year-old beat useful Flat stayer Southern France by a head in his sole start on the level.
Coeur Sublime then scored on his hurdles debut at Down Royal, before getting chinned on the line by Chief Justice in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse.
He was later a three-length runner-up in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival to Pentland Hills.
Coeur Sublime put in a career best on reappearance in the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle when eased clear on the bridle to score by 15 lengths.
Davy Russell was in such firm command of the situation that he eased his mount down close home. Coeur Sublime was thus value for plenty more than the winning margin.
The Matheson Hurdle demands more, but he gets a handy 3lb weight-for-age from his elders under race terms.
That could swing things in the favour of Coeur Sublime, who is 7/2 with Betfair to follow-up.
Supreme winner Klassical Dream was very disappointing when turned over in the Morgiana at Punchestown on reappearance.
Despite Willie Mulins’ superb record in this race with six successes this decade, he is taken on at a short price of 5/4 with Ladbrokes here.
Battleoverdoyen can complete chase hat-trick
The chief supporting race is the 3m Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase (13:55), and Battleoverdoyen appeals to land the hat-trick.
Also trained by Elliott, who has won three of the last four renewals, this six-year-old landed has taken to fences well.
An Irish point and top class novice hurdler, Battleoverdoyen scored on each of his first four career starts.
They include Grade 1 glory at Naas in January where he stayed on well to beat Sams Profile by 2 3/4 lengths.
Battleoverdoyen was pulled-up in the Albert Barlett at the Cheltenham Festival as he was never travelling.
He was bought by owners Gigginstown House Stud, who have won this race five times this decade, very much with chasing in mind.
As Battleoverdoyen made all and jumped well in an extended 2m 6f beginners event at Galway on reappearance, he was all the rage to follow-up in the Grade 2 Florida Pearl at Punchestown.
His run there when following-up can be upgraded. That is because Battleoverdoyen took a few bumps on the way round when beating Cheltenham Festival winner Any Second Now by five lengths.
Although this demands more, the soft ground is ideal. Odds of 7/4 with Boylesports say Battleoverdoyen will complete his hat-trick.
There is stiff competition in the form of other Cheltenham Festival heroes Minella Indo and stable companion Champagne Classic, plus Carefully Selected, but this son of Doyen appeals most.
Stormy Ireland a strong fancy to follow-up
On the Matheson Hurdle undercard is a 2m 4f Grade 3 contest for mares over the smaller obstacles (13:20).
Stormy Ireland brings leading form claims into this race, so is strongly fancied to follow-up.
Trained by Mulins, this Sullivan Bloodstock owned five-year-old finished runner-up in consecutive Grade 1s at this trip in the spring.
After landing a Listed affair at Punchestown on reappearance last term, Stormy Ireland chased home ill-fated Champion Hurdle winner Espoir D’Allen.
She then filled the same spot behind Laurina in the Quevega Mares Hurdle.
Stormy Ireland also ran massive races in defeat when runner-up to Roksana at the Cheltenham Festival and second to Benie Des Dieux in the Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.
As she returned there to win the same Listed contest on reappearance, when beating re-opposing trio Black Tears, Eglantine Du Seuil and Barra, she should confirm the form.
Stormy Ireland is better off at the weights with the runner-up and fourth mare home. She also meets Cheltenham Festival heroine Eglantine Du Seuil off just 1lb worse terms.
More is needed to reverse the placings from Punchestown, so – with Paul Townend again aboard – Stormy Ireland is the one to on at 8/13 with 888Sport in this Grade 3 mares hurdle.
Cobblers Way another Matheson Hurdle day punt
In the 2m 4f maiden hurdle earlier on (12:45), Cobblers Way looks worth a wager to go one better.
Trained by Henry De Bromhead, who has been firmly among the winners at the Christmas Festival, this Gigginstown owned five-year-old ran well in defeat last time out.
That was on hurdles bow for Cobblers Way at Navan last month when he only found highly-regarded JP McManus owned gelding Andy Dufresne 11 lengths too good.
Alpine Cobra, who was 5 1/2 lengths further behind in third, won the next time out. He also finished runner-up in a Grade 3 at Cork, so the form isn’t too shabby.
Cobblers Way was an 11-length Limerick bumper winner after making all and staying on strongly. It suggests an intermediate trip is right up his street.
Cobblers Way again has the services of in-form jockey Rachael Blackmore in the saddle, so this son of Oscar can be backed at 5/2 with BetVictor to go one better here.
The main danger in this maiden contest on Matheson Hurdle day is The Big Getaway – an impressive Irish point winner by 30 lengths in March 2018.
Trained by Mullins, he was second on both his first two starts under Rules in bumpers this year.
The Big Getaway made it third time lucky in National Hunt Flat races on reappearance at Punchestown when scoring by seven lengths unextended.
He is obviously a highly-regarded recruit to hurdles, but plenty short enough at 11/8 with the same firm in this.
