Leopardstown’s four day festive jamboree rolls riotously onto day 2 on Sunday, and a cracker lies in wait in the shape of the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at 1.25pm.
It’s a race that pitches 156 rated pair Forpadydeplasterer and Tranquil Sea together, and there’s no way I can desert the runaway Paddy Power Gold Cup winner as he drops back in trip to 2m 1f here.
Edward O’Grady’s horse was rampant at Cheltenham in handicap company, turning an apparently hot race into a procession, and although this is obviously harder he’s improving fast enough to suggest a Grade 1 win could soon be his.
Don’t forget the horse he beat in the Paddy Power Poquelin then came out and bagged the Boylesports, and if you factor in he’s twice a career winner at Leopardstown (a bumper and hurdle race in 2007) he must have a big shout here.
This former Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle winner has the speed to be effective back at this shorter trip – back him to win in the hands of Andrew McNamara.
At Kempton the mare with the worst form figures in Western Europe will be hoping for a change of luck in the 2.05pm, the williamhill.com – Bingo Mares’ Handicap Hurdle, as My Petra takes her chance for Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty.
Figures of FPPPV make a mockery of her huge ability, and back against her own sex she can make it career win number five over hurdles.
Finally I really am looking forward to seeing some class horses on display in the Desert Orchid Chase at 2.40pm.
The brittle but utterly brilliant Well Chief gets my vote in a mildly sentimental selection – he might have failed to spark in the Tingle Creek three weeks back, but he proved he retained plenty of his old ability when seeing off Mahogany Blaze (favoured at the weights here) and Master Minded on his seasonal reappearance, and if David Pipe can produce him at the top of his game then he’ll be hard to beat.
Connections still retain genuine hopes of clinching the Champion Chase crown that this ten year old deserves.
Good luck!
Sunday’s bets:
1.25 Leopardstown – Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase – 7 Tranquil Sea (win)
2.05 Kempton – williamhill.com – Bingo Mares’ Handicap Hurdle – 2 My Petra (win)
2.40 Kempton – williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase – 2 Well Chief (win)
