15:00 Leopardstown

Thursday 28 December 2017

All12:1512:5013:2013:5014:2515:0015:35

Leopardstown Christmas Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 8.40s

Alpha Des Obeaux^p,t1¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Cooper| T: M F Morris| OR: 156| D

66/1

Wore cheekpieces (retained since) when successful in a Grade 2 contest over an extended 2m4f at Clonmel (soft-to-heavy) last month. Disappointed at Aintree since and wears a tongue tie for the first time today.

Form: 86-2414

Balko Des Flos⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D F O'Regan| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 157| BF| C

66/1

Winner of the valuable Galway Plate over an extended 2m6f on good ground in August. Fair efforts in two starts since including when finishing behind Alpha Des Obeaux at Clonmel last time.

Form: 3F3-123

Carlingford Lough^t¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: J E Kiely| OR: 155| CD

33/1

Successful five times at the highest level including in successive running's of the Hennessy Gold Cup in 2015 and 2016. Below par this time around and looks up against it today.

Form: 144-7U5

Djakadam¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 166| BF| C

8/1

High class individual and placed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup back in 2016. Had Sizing John in front of him on each of his last three appearances including when 7L second to that rival at Punchestown (2m4f, heavy) last time out.

Form: 21342-2

Edwulf^t²⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 152

66/1

Successful in a 2m4f handicap chase at Naas (heavy) in February and ran well prior to pulling up in a 4m novice chase at Cheltenham (good-to-soft) the following month. Others make more appeal on seasonal debut.

Form: U21F1P-

Minella Rocco^p⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 163| D

25/1

Finished runner-up to Sizing John in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on good ground in March. Disappointing in two starts this season and pulled up at Cheltenham last time out.

Form: 3FU2-4P

Outlander^p³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: G Elliott| OR: 164| CD

16/1

Winning for the fifth time when victorious in a 3m Grade 1 contest at Down Royal (soft) in first time cheekpieces (retained since) last month. Well held on heavy ground at Haydock subsequently and took this contest on yielding ground last season.

Form: 10P-613

Road To Respect^h1⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 163| D

8/1

Classy novice chase last term winning a Grade 1 contest over 2m4f at Fairyhouse (good-to-yielding) in April and made a winning reappearance at Punchestown. Wears a hood for the first time having finished second to Outlander last time out.

Form: 2211-12

Sizing John¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 170| CD

9/10

Winning for the fourth consecutive time in Grade 1 company when successful on seasonal debut over 2m4f at Punchestown (heavy) earlier this month. Has won here in the past and is likely to prove hard to beat today.

Form: 21111-1

Valseur Lido³⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: N D Fehily| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 161| D

16/1

Made a winning debut for this yard in a Grade 1 contest at Down Royal (3m, good) in November last year. Only appearance since came when finishing fourth to Outlander in this contest last year and he is making his seasonal debut today.

Form: FU22/14-

Yorkhill²⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164| BF| C| D

7/2

Leading novice chaser last season winning in Grade 1 company at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) in March. Subsequently finished a neck second to Road To Respect at Fairyhouse and he tackles this trip for the first time today.

Form: 1/41112-

Zabana^t⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: A Lynch| OR: 153| C

28/1

Useful novice chaser a couple of seasons back but generally found wanting in Graded company since including when third to Outlander at Down Royal (3m, soft) last month. Likely to find a few too good in this contest.

Form: 1417-53

Forecasts

Sizing John (9/10), Yorkhill (7/2), Road To Respect (8/1), Djakadam (8/1), Outlander (16/1), Valseur Lido (16/1), Minella Rocco (25/1), Zabana (28/1), Carlingford Lough (33/1), Balko Des Flos (66/1), Alpha Des Obeaux (66/1), Edwulf (66/1)

OUTLANDER proved a disappointment at Haydock last time out but he can maintain his unbeaten record at this venue by repeating last years success in this contest. Both of the selections previous chase victories here came at the highest level and he can inflict a defeat on recent Punchestown winner Sizing John who can confirm form with Djakadam from that particular contest in the battle for minor honours.