15:10 Leopardstown

Saturday 28 December 2019

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:40

Savills Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 6m 18.4s

Anibale Fly^t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: A J Martin| OR: 165| CD

16/1

Enviable record in Grade 1 races but has to be a concern that he was pulled up in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown at the start of this month; might have needed the run but was beaten a long way from home that day. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 4/6225-9

Bellshill²⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 167| CD

20/1

Fourth in this race last year but did return to be triumphant in the Irish Gold Cup just over a month later. It was just a small field that day and he's been no match for Kemboy twice more since; needs a fair bit to go his way this time.

Form: 51/41P-4

Delta Work^h,t⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 163| CD

11/2

Won a Grade 1 as a novice at this fixture last year before putting in a sterling performance at Punchestown in April. Was disappointingly below par on his return last month but has tended to need a run so might be a very different proposition now.

Form: 1113-14

Jett^p⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 155| C

40/1

Won a Grade 3 at Punchestown in October (Balko Des Flos was fourth) which was an effort that confirmed he stays well. Not disgraced behind the top-class Douvan (2m4f) latest and is a lively contender at appealing odds. Needs a personal best, though.

Form: 622712

Kemboy²⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 177| CD

7/4

Includes three Grade 1 wins (including this race last year) already on his impressive CV and bounded clear to give Ruby Walsh an emotional send off when the partnership won the Punchestown Gold Cup when last seen. Very much the one to beat again.

Form: 1/11U1-1

Monalee⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 163| C| D

8/1

Good effort to finish third (just behind Jett) at Clonmel last month and also previously ran a blinder when fourth in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival back in March. The balance of form leaves him with a bit too much to prove, though.

Form: 3214-P3

Presenting Percy^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: P G Kelly| OR: 169| D

7/2

Had Monalee behind when winning the RSA at Cheltenham in 2018 but only lightly raced since; didn't travel well in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and also done for toe on his reappearance earlier this month. Respected but this is a tough ask.

Form: 121/18-3

Road To Respect⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 169| CD

7/2

The form of his Down Royal Grade 1 win could hardly have been boosted in more convincing style than Clan Des Obeaux's Kempton win; and he could be the real deal over the next few months. Serious contender if able to better last year's performance.

Form: 13235-1

Non-Runners

Balko Des Flos³⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: H De Bromhead J: Mark Walsh

Forecasts

Kemboy (7/4), Road To Respect (7/2), Presenting Percy (7/2), Delta Work (11/2), Monalee (8/1), Anibale Fly (16/1), Bellshill (20/1), Balko Des Flos (25/1), Jett (40/1)

KEMBOY is the obvious choice and will take some stopping in his bid to retain the crown in a race he won by 7½ lengths (ahead of Monalee, his closest pursuer at the line) last December. Road To Respect has improved greatly since, as he proved when he handed out a solid thrashing to subsequent King George winner Clan Des Obeaux last time out; and has to merit consideration after his exploits at Down Royal. He does need to reproduce away from that particular course, though. Jett is also likely to be an attractive price to make the frame, while Delta Work could also go close now that his fitness has been topped up.