DAY TWO:
Paddy Power Chase Day, Sunday December 27 €150,000
Paddy Power Chase (Handicap)
An
entry of 71 horses, an increase of 10 on 2019, has been received for the
Paddy Power Chase which was won in such memorable fashion by Roaring Bull
last year. He’s among the 14 horses entered by Gordon Elliott this time and
the Cullentra trainer can also call upon the likes of Milan Native, Monbeg
Notorious and the JT McNamara Munster National winner Aforementioned. Chavi
Artist, trained by Tom Mullins, Barry Connell’s Massey’s Wood, John Ryan’s
Paddy Power Cork Grand National winner Dromore Lad, and Paul Nolan’s
Fitzhenry, runner-up in the race last year, and the Noel Meade-trained Daly
Tiger are interesting entries along with the recent Kempton winner Lock’s
Corner and The Butcher Said, which have been entered by Jonjo O’Neill and
Olly Murphy respectively. Castlebawn West, Class Conti, Fan De Blues and
Livelovelaugh are among Willie Mullins’ entry of 11 when Henry de Bromhead’s
seven entries include last year’s third Plan Of Attack and former
Leopardstown Christmas Festival winner Ellie Mac. The weights for the Paddy
Power Chase will be published Monday, November 30.
€100,000
Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club Steeplechase
The
first of two Grade 1 races on the second day of the Leopardstown Christmas
Festival is the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase and it’s set to be a cracker. Last
year’s winner, the Henry de Bromhead-trained A Plus Tard and and runner-up,
Willie Mullins’ Chacun Pour Soi, head the early entry of 17 horses. De Bromhead
has also entered the star mare and Cheltenham specialist Put The Kettle On
along with Notebook and Paloma Blue while the Willie Mullins team is
completed by Min, Melon, Annamix and Cash Back. Gordon Elliott has
Battleoverdoyen and Samcro in the early line-up, while Joseph O'Brien’s Le
Richebourg and Fakir D'oudairies and the Pat Fahy-trained Castlegrace Paddy
all add to the intrigue.
€80,000
Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle
The
Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle is the first of three
top-level hurdle races at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. Willie Mullins
won with Hurricane Fly in 2008 and was successful in the race for four
straight years from 2015 to 2018. Ferny Hollow, Appreciate It, N’golo and
Shewearsitwell are among his 13 entries while Gordon Elliott, successful last
year with Abacadabras, has four to choose from, including Ballyadam and Call
Me Lyreen. A winner with Sizing John in 2014, Henry de Bromhead has Bob
Olinger and Irascible among his six entries while Emmet Mullins has Sneaky
Getaway, Arthur Moore has Sea Ducor and Cask Mate and Flanking Maneuver are
on a team of four from trainer Noel Meade who has won the race on two
occasions in the last 15 years. |