12:35 Leopardstown

Friday 27 December 2019

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Paddy Power 'Live Stream All Irish Racing On Our App' Beginners Chase

Off time: 12:36 | Winning time: 4m 14.3s

Antey⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins

16/1

Took longer than most to win for this stable, but scored twice in the spring of 2018 over hurdles. Returning from a long absence when ninth to Faugheen on chase debut at Punchestown, and should be much sharper now.

Form: 36211/9

Capuccimix³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

7/1

Maiden hurdle winner at Clonmel in January, and better than the bare result when 7L second of 14 to Cash Back in maiden at Navan on chasing debut. Will progress, but this trip is arguably too sharp based on how he shaped last time.

Form: 17-2

Chosen Mate^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

11/1

Won maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse and Grade 2 novice at Naas last season. Below form this term, but is a winning pointer, so could well be revived by a switch to fences.

Form: 215-P60

City Island^t²³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: M Brassil| BF| C

15/8

Confirmed himself one of the best novice hurdlers around when landing the Ballymore Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Below that form at Punchestown, but still appeals a a bright prospect for chasing, and entitled to maximum respect on return.

Form: 1D111-6

Gallant John Joe⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan

16/1

Placed in a 2¾m Grade 1 hurdle at Naas early in the year, although generally found wanting in pattern company. Not discredited on latest hurdles outing last month, but in quite deep water for this chasing bow.

Form: 2317-95

Melon⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF| C

5/4

Runner-up in two Champion Hurdles, and shaped well when second to Fakir D'Oudairies on fencing debut at Navan last month. Jumped fine there, and will be hard to beat with that under his belt.

Form: 42F-702

Sizing Pottsie^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| C

16/1

Matched the pick of his hurdles form when third of 23 to Captain Guinness in maiden at Navan recently, and is bred for fences, but he will find easier openings than this in the coming weeks and months.

Form: 14/53-33

Valdieu¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| D

20/1

Point winner. Better effort over regulation fences when 18L second of 13 to Dunvegan in a 2m maiden at Punchestown last time. Will win races, but slight surprise if this is one of them.

Form: 703-452

Forecasts

Melon (5/4), City Island (15/8), Capuccimix (7/1), Chosen Mate (11/1), Gallant John Joe (16/1), Antey (16/1), Sizing Pottsie (16/1), Valdieu (20/1)

MELON lost little in defeat behind Fakir D'Oudairies on debut and will be hard to beat here, albeit City Island is a Cheltenham Festival winner who could easily make into a high-class chaser himself. He's the biggest danger based on his hurdles exploits, especially as Cappucimix may find this trip on the sharp side having got outpaced at a crucial stage at Navan.