A VINTAGE Leopardstown Christmas Chase headlines the penultimate day of the Festival where Sizing John bids to enhance further his position as the outstanding staying chaser in training.

Jessica Harrington’s Gold Cup hero, who is bidding for a fifth consecutive Grade 1 triumph, made a striking return to action in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown a couple of weeks ago. He survived an early scare at the second fence before going on to trounce old rival Djakadam with a performance that suggested he could be even better this season.

Sizing John will be squaring off against some formidable foes on Thursday but the calibre of form he showed when stepping up to three miles last season, allied to his impressive comeback, make him the choice.

Yorkhill is a fascinating challenger. This dual Cheltenham winner is a supremely talented sort and could reach even greater heights on his first try over this trip since his point-to-points.

This represents a daunting starting point for his campaign but he will be well-suited by a return to a left-handed track and it is significant that his trainer is opting to start him out for the season at this exalted level.

Further interest is supplied by Disko. This grey was among the best novices last term when he won twice at Grade 1 level, which included a victory over three miles, and there was plenty to like about his smooth comeback victory at Down Royal early last month.

Like Yorkhill, he could be a coming force in the staying division and he can play a major role in what is shaping up to be a cracking edition of this race.

Interesintingly, both Yorkhill and Disko are rated 164 which leaves them needing to find only 6lb with Sizing John, which is far from an insurmountable deficit.

Earlier on the card, Apple’s Jade will try her hand over three miles for the first time in the Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle.

This brilliant mare will be looking to build on her superb Hatton’s Grace Hurdle vicory which was one of the finest performances of her already-decorated career.

The five-year-old has long looked as though she would be quite at home over this distance and she is chosen to confirm form with the Hatton’s Grace runner-up Nichols Canyon.

The last-named is a major threat though as he is sure to improve from his comeback and he is stepping up to a trip that brought out the best in him when he won the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

The Coral Cup hero Supasundae adds further interest, as does Killultagh Vic who hasn’t been seen since completing that amazing comeback to win a Grade 2 novice chase at this track almost two years ago. It is worth recalling that Killultagh Vic’s only previous try at this trip saw him beat Thistlecrack in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Punchestown in 2015.

Another to watch out for on the card is Sutton Place who could make his debut over fences in the Ballymaloe Foods Beginners Chase. He was progressing into a top-class hurdler last term and looked set to go close in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown last April only to pull-up before the second last when something was amiss. He could go a long way over fences.