15:00 Leopardstown

Wednesday 27 December 2017

All12:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Paddy Power Chase (0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 17.80s

Road To Riches^t¹⁰⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 150| CD

33/1

No improvement in first-time tongue tie in Kerry National at Listowel (3m, heavy) in September. A high-class performer at his best but now ten-years-old and quite some time since he's shown his best stuff.

Form: P285-09

Anibale Fly^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A J Martin| OR: 148| BF| D

14/1

Has some quality form to his name, such as his win over the useful A Genie In Abottle at Naas in January in 3m Grade 3 novice contest. Is susceptible to a stinker from time to time, but this 3m trip much more like it after 2m spin around Fairyhouse.

Form: P142-59

Pleasant Company^h²⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147| D

16/1

Winner of a heavy ground 3m1f chase at Fairyhouse in February. Finished a respectable ninth in the Grand National subsequently and one to take seriously on return to action for champion trainer.

Form: 3P/1419-

Potters Point^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: C D Meehan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| D

33/1

Kerry National winner at Listowel in September (3m, heavy), well held both starts since having been hit with a ratings hike. Cannot be ruled and does have a useful 5lb claim to assist.

Form: 221140

Polidam^h¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146

6/1

Just two starts since joining Mullins team, impressive winner of 2m4f Navan handicap on reappearance and cannot be discounted despite going up 9lb for that win. Up in distance.

Form: 67137-1

Ucello Conti^t²⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 145

25/1

Finished seventh in this last year, was running a decent race in the Aintree Grand National when last spotted before unseating his rider. Getting back there may be long-term target and may need this run.

Form: 74724U-

Apache Stronghold^t1¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| OR: 144| C

33/1

Returned from 940 days off and unable to show anything like best form. No match for Polidam over shorter trip at Navan recently and plenty to work on with first-time tongue tie added.

Form: 12F3/34

Thunder And Roses^t,v²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Ms L O'Neill⁽³⁾| T: M F Morris| OR: 143| D

40/1

Former Irish National winner, tailed off in this 12 months ago before unseating in Aintree National and running fine fourth at Fairyhouse in Irish version. Pulled up on reappearance at that track this month.

Form: 226U4-P

General Principle^t1³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| D

16/1

Decent reappearance over hurdles at Clonmel last month but disappointing since when fancied in the Troytown at Navan (3m, soft to heavy). Yard in excellent form and may bounce back.

Form: 6115-47

Three Stars⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: R M Power| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 139

33/1

Couple of runs this season at Cork (2m1f) and Aintree (2m4f) have been a tad disappointing. Trainer's runners now coming to life (treble here yesterday) and may have more to offer over this longer journey for the first time.

Form: 5P5-355

Bay Of Freedom⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Kevin Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 138

20/1

Decent third of five behind A Genie In Abottle in Listed chase at Wexford (2m5f, soft) when last out, runs off the same mark here but will need to improve significantly on that effort to score.

Form: 14P-433

Bonny Kate³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 138

10/1

Useful mare, came home third in big-field handicap at Navan (3m, heavy) 31 days ago and should give another solid account on these terms, may have a race like this in her.

Form: 333PP-3

Flaxen Flare^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 138| C

16/1

Won on chase bow at Down Royal (2m4f, good to yielding) in May 2015 but had problems since and only two runs over fences. Plenty to find in this field.

Form: 1/3U-232

Oscar Knight⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: T Mullins| OR: 136

7/1

Capable chaser, finished 5L third in this last year, scored last month over hurdles at Naas in testing ground and not readily dismissed despite being 6lb higher than 12 months ago.

Form: 363U-01

Call The Taxie³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Miss Ellmarie Holden| OR: 135| D

16/1

Won a beginners' chase over 2m4f at Navan in September in good style. Held in small field events at Galway and Punchestown over this sort of trip since and big task on handicap chase debut.

Form: 331-135

On Fiddlers Green⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 135

33/1

Latest success came at Roscommon in July, pulled up in 3m1f handicap at Cheltenham last month having also run poor in the Munster National previously, plenty to prove for now.

Form: 09-108P

Woods Well²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| BF

25/1

Only two runs over fences, winning nine-runner beginners' chase at Fairyhouse in November (2m5f, soft to heavy). Makes handicap chase debut and respected for Elliott team despite inexperience.

Form: 32P8-12

Dromnea^p1,t⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: M A Enright| T: M F Morris| OR: 134

33/1

Winner on heavy ground at Listowel over 2m4f in September but run a couple of stinkers since then at Limerick and Galway. First-time cheekpieces and returning tongue-strap tried now but has plenty to prove off current rating.

Form: 240-166

Forever Gold^b²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: C D Timmons⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 134| CD

20/1

Admirable ten-year-old has rarely run a poor race over fences over previous two years (seven starts in all). Weighted to be in the thick of it again and won't mind testing ground to put emphasis on stamina.

Form: 2182-F2

Texas Jack³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: B J Cooper| T: N Meade| OR: 134| C

50/1

Has won around here in the past, failed to complete final two starts last season and well held on reappearance over 2m6f at Fairyhouse. Hard to make a case for him at the moment.

Form: 771PU-7

Squouateur^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| C

4/1

Yet to win in seven starts over fences but has run some useful races, fair effort on reappearance at Fairyhouse (2m½f, soft to heavy) this month and should be fitter now with longer trip in his favour for leading connections.

Form: 78P2U-6

Vieux Morvan^b²⁸⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: S A Shortall⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 133

40/1

Record of 1-21 over fences in native France, has joined good yard here but this isn't an easy starting point and perhaps best watched for now.

Form: 5452F6-

Full Cry^p1,t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: R Loughran| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 132

40/1

More hit than miss of late and potentially has plenty on plate at these weights. First-time cheekpieces are added and trainer enjoyed fine treble here yesterday but others preferred.

Form: 4P-5025

Out Sam²⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 132

20/1

Inconsistent sort in Britain for Warren Greatrex and without a win since February 2016. First start for new handler, who is renowned for improving such types. Stays the trip.

Form: F34PP9-

Space Cadet³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Brian Hayes| T: G Elliott| OR: 132| C

25/1

Fair effort in the Troytown over 3m (heavy) at Navan last month on seasonal bow when finishing six of 21, beaten 25L. May improve on that now.

Form: 20277-6

Phil's Magic^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: D F O'Regan| T: A J Martin| OR: 129

20/1

Doesn't win many (1-18 over fences) but fair efforts lately subsequent Ladbrokes Trophy winner Total Recall at Limerick and in Cheltenham amateur riders' event last month. Shrewd yard and one to note.

Form: 431235

Tesseract³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Robbie Colgan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 128

28/1

Bounced back to form with a deserved success in a Wexford handicap chase over 2m4f on heavy ground in October then finished fifth of 21 in Troytown at Navan last month (Bonny Kate third). Much more needed.

Form: 216615

Teacher's Pet^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: M J Bolger| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 126

25/1

In good for with wins at Roscommon and Cork in the autumn over 2m4f-2m5f, solid showing in mares' handicap chase at Fairyhouse this month off current rating (First Reserve).

Form: 2-5U113

Non-Runners

Baily Moon¹⁵⁹

Weight: 10-2| Age: 6

T: M F Morris J: S J Crimin

He Rock's²⁴

Weight: 9-13| Age: 8

T: S J Mahon J: Reserve 2

Magic Of Light²⁵

Weight: 9-13| Age: 6

T: Mrs J Harrington J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Squouateur (4/1), Polidam (6/1), Oscar Knight (7/1), Bonny Kate (10/1), Anibale Fly (14/1), General Principle (16/1), Pleasant Company (16/1), Flaxen Flare (16/1), Call The Taxie (16/1), Phil's Magic (20/1), Out Sam (20/1), Bay Of Freedom (20/1), Forever Gold (20/1), Ucello Conti (25/1), Space Cadet (25/1), Teacher's Pet (25/1), Woods Well (25/1), Tesseract (28/1), Potters Point (33/1), Apache Stronghold (33/1), On Fiddlers Green (33/1), Road To Riches (33/1), Three Stars (33/1), Baily Moon (33/1), Dromnea (33/1), Vieux Morvan (40/1), Full Cry (40/1), Thunder And Roses (40/1), Texas Jack (50/1)

POLIDAM made light work of winning in this grade at Navan over 2m4f earlier in the month and, despite a 9lb hike, he's fancied to take some beating again. He had plenty in hand on that occasion and those that finished behind him did so at wide intervals. That was just his second start for Willie Mullins and with no reason to doubt his stamina, he could prove himself well ahead of the handicapper still. Forever Gold rarely runs a bad race and showed his well-being when chasing home the well-regarded Presenting Percy last time, he should go well again. Gordon Elliott has enough in this for a good race amongst themselves, Squouateur ran well enough on his reappearance to suggest he can get involved while Woods Well is a potential improver. Pleasant Company, Bonny Kate and Space Cadet are others to note.