15:00 Leopardstown

Friday 27 December 2024

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:2015:0015:30

Paddy Power Chase (Extended Handicap Chase) (0-150) (Listed)

Off time: 15:04 | Winning time: 6m 12.1s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Nick Rockett²⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Cleary-Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| D

25/1

Creditable third of 20 in handicap chase (7/1) at Sandown (28.7f, good) when last seen in April. One of 10 representatives from the Willie Mullins yard. Strong each-way chance.

Form: 1/41273-

Meetingofthewaters^h²⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Peter Smithers⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149| CD

20/1

Creditable seventh of 32 in the Grand National at Aintree (34.3f, soft, 11/1) on final run of last season. Dropping back in trip will help and, though 19 lb higher in the weights compared to when winning this 12 months ago, he has to be high on the shortlist.

Form: 311U37-

Janidil^t,b⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: A P Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148

22/1

Blinkered for 1st time, bit below form seventh of 15 in handicap chase (40/1) at Cheltenham (20.2f, good) 41 days ago. Back up in trip. Yard saddles several candidates with more appealing claims.

Form: 30P-F37

Three Card Brag^b1²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: C P Millar⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 148

17/2

5/2, third of 4 in minor event hurdle at Clonmel (24f, soft) 24 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase and sports first-time blinkers on 1st time. One of 5 from the Gordon Elliott yard and he's of strong interest on this handicap debut.

Form: 56/223-3

Horantzau D'airy^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: P Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147| C

33/1

Course winner. Ninth of 13 in handicap chase at Newbury (26f, good to soft, 14/1) 27 days ago. Place possibilities.

Form: 23F229

Pinkerton^t⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 147

11/1

2 wins from 3 runs this season. Latest win in chase at Galway in July. Good 2¼ lengths second of 5 to Found A Fifty in Skymas Chase at Down Royal (19.6f, good to soft, 5/4) 55 days ago. Up in trip and should make his presence felt.

Form: 3511-12

Adamantly Chosen²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: C G O'Dwyer⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146

50/1

Below form ninth of 19 in handicap chase at Navan (20.7f, soft, 16/1) 20 days ago. Doesn't appear to be towards the top of the Mullins pecking order in this race.

Form: 07107-9

Lucid Dreams²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: D King| T: J P Ryan| OR: 145

33/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2023. Creditable sixth of 19 in handicap chase (9/1) at Navan (20.7f, soft) 20 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 2-33426

Favori De Champdou^p1²⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr J H Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| D

33/1

8/13, didn't need to be at best when winning 5-runner Grade 3 chase at Limerick (24.6f, heavy) by neck from Donacheady Gale, all out. Off 8 months and cheekpieces on 1st time. Likely to find a few too good.

Form: 2154F1-

Desertmore House^p,t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Ricky Doyle| T: M Brassil| OR: 143| D

20/1

8/1, good third of 15 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (24.1f, good to soft) 33 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase and likely to find this too competitive.

Form: 843-P43

Life In The Park^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 143

28/1

Twelfth of 18 in handicap chase at Navan (24.2f, good to soft, 11/1) 40 days ago. Trainer going well and he's capable of playing a part if on-song.

Form: 504P-40

Panda Boy^p⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin| T: M Brassil| OR: 143| CD

7/1

11/1, respectable seventh of 12 in handicap chase at Limerick (24f, good to soft) 68 days ago. Cheekpieces back on and likely to give another good account in a race in which he finished fourth last year and third in 2022 (also a winner over hurdles at this meeting in 2021). Respected.

Form: 44240-7

Macdermott²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142

33/1

Pulled up in handicap chase (33/1) at Navan (20.7f, soft) 20 days ago and, all in all, his top yard saddles stronger contenders.

Form: 82F11-P

Perceval Legallois⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 142| CD

17/2

10/1, creditable fourth of 18 in handicap chase at Navan (24.2f, good to soft) 40 days ago. Mark Walsh's pick of the JP McManus-owned contingent and this 7-y-o has to be high on the shortlist.

Form: 5F2-864

Hgranca De Thaix⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: B Connell| OR: 141| BF

9/1

Promising individual. 2/1, bit below form fourth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Galway (21.9f, good to soft) 62 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Remains open to improvement in this sphere and he merits consideration.

Form: 35311-4

Spanish Harlem^t²³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138

40/1

Pulled up in handicap chase at Punchestown (24.5f, soft, 11/1), behind when pulled up 5 out. Off 7 months and entitled to come on for the run.

Form: P/3336P-

Hartur D'arc⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 137| D

50/1

Unseated rider in handicap chase (18/1) at Ascot (23.8f, soft) 6 days ago too far out to suggest outcome. Others look stronger.

Form: 3110-9U

Aime Desjy²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: K Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| BF

50/1

14/1, pulled up in handicap chase at Navan (20.7f, soft) 20 days ago, pulled up soon after. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 2158-7P

Toss Again^p1,t⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 135

33/1

Pulled up in handicap chase at Chepstow (23.6f, good, 11/2) 76 days ago, folding from end of back straight. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Has work to do.

Form: 248-4PP

Fakir D'alene^b⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: J S McGarvey| T: G Elliott| OR: 134| D

50/1

33/1, ninth of 18 in handicap chase at Navan (24.2f, good to soft) 40 days ago. Brought down in this race 12 months ago. Continues to edge down the weights but he has a fair bit to prove at present.

Form: 23BPP-9

Mars Harper^p,t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 132

25/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2023. 18/1, excellent second of 19 in handicap chase at Navan (20.7f, soft) 20 days ago. Can make his presence felt off the same mark here, provided he gets home (slight question mark remains over the suitability of this trip).

Form: 378P52

Chavez²⁸⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 131

66/1

20/1, pulled up in handicap chase at Cheltenham (26f, soft) when last seen 9 months ago and he's hard to warm to on this occasion.

Form: U1/55FP-

Klarc Kent²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Anna McGuinness⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 130| BF

50/1

50/1, below form tenth of 19 in handicap chase at Navan (20.7f, soft) 20 days ago, not knocked about. Risky proposition at present.

Form: F324P-0

History Of Fashion^p²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: H E Sexton⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 129| D

33/1

2 wins from 4 runs this season. 10/1, improved to win 13-runner handicap chase at Fairyhouse (29.7f, good) 26 days ago. Much more on his plate as he goes in search of the hat-trick off 7 lb higher in this much tougher race.

Form: 85P-P11

Midnight Our Fred^t⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: A Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Flavin| OR: 128| D

10/1

Career best when winning 6-runner handicap chase at Gowran (20f, good to firm, 2/1) 83 days ago, going clear. Back up in trip and he's in with an each-way shout.

Form: 0222-31

Will Do^b1⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 126| BF

5/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, very good second of 7 in novice chase at Fairyhouse (20f, good, 6/5) 45 days ago. Blinkers on 1st time and, on a fair mark for his handicap debut in this sphere (fourth off the same mark in a strong handicap hurdle at Punchestown in May), he's one to consider.

Form: 964-332

Galon De Vauzelle^b⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Calum Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 121| C| D

50/1

Course winner. Twelfth of 13 in handicap chase at Aintree (21.1f, good, 40/1) 48 days ago. Looks set for another struggle.

Form: 6P-P710

Non-Runners

Positive Thinker⁵⁴

Weight: 10-5| Age: 7

T: M J McDonagh J: Cian Quirke

Forecasts

Will Do (5/1), Panda Boy (7/1), Perceval Legallois (17/2), Three Card Brag (17/2), Hgranca De Thaix (9/1), Midnight Our Fred (10/1), Pinkerton (11/1), Desertmore House (20/1), Meetingofthewaters (20/1), Janidil (22/1), Nick Rockett (25/1), Mars Harper (25/1), Positive Thinker (25/1), Life In The Park (28/1), History Of Fashion (33/1), Favori De Champdou (33/1), Horantzau D'airy (33/1), Toss Again (33/1), Macdermott (33/1), Lucid Dreams (33/1), Spanish Harlem (40/1), Galon De Vauzelle (50/1), Adamantly Chosen (50/1), Fakir D'alene (50/1), Aime Desjy (50/1), Hartur D'arc (50/1), Klarc Kent (50/1), Chavez (66/1)

THREE CARD BRAG is armed with an appealing profile having shaped well on each of his three starts over fences last season, including when third to Spillane's Tower in a Punchestown Grade 1 during the spring. On that evidence he is starting off in a handicap on a fair mark and a recent spin over hurdles will have teed him up nicely for this. There could be more to come from Hgranca de Thaix this season and he is second choice ahead of Perceval Legallois and last year's winner Meetingofthewaters.