DON POLI spearheads the Gigginstown assault on the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Monday, with the owners responsible for half of the six runners.
Don Poli was the top staying novice last season and returned to action for Willie Mullins with a defeat of Grand National hero Many Clouds at Aintree. He currently disputes favouritism at around 5/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The Gigginstown colours will also be carried by Sir Des Champs, who reappeared after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a heart-warming triumph at Thurles, and First Lieutenant, whose Hennessy third suggested there are still big days to be enjoyed with him, although they might come in handicap company.
Irish Hennessy one-two Carlingford Lough and Foxrock, plus last year’s Lexus runner-up On His Own, complete a stellar line-up. Mullins has a big chance of saddling the first two home with the odds-on Don Poli very much the preferred choice over Sir Des Champs.
Last season’s Champion Hurdle runner-up Arctic Fire is an intriguing contender for the three-mile Christmas Hurdle. The six-year-old beat the reopposing Alpha Des Obeaux in the Hatton’s Grace over two-and-a-half miles at Fairyhouse in late November and now takes on proven stayers like Albert Bartlett hero Martello Tower over this stamina-testing trip.
Arctic Fire has upwards of 17lb in hand, with Alpha des Obeaux and Martello Tower the pair most likely to follow him in.
Balbir Du Mathan got closest to the classy Pont Alexandre at Punchestown and may have to settle for a minor role again in the two-mile-three-furlong beginners’ chase behind another Mullins inmate because Tell Us More was a 139-rated novice hurdler last term and is yet another exciting recruit to fences for the champion trainer.
However, both might find the French-bred four-year-old Blazer a bit too strong. Barry Geraghty rides and the experience he got when third, beaten a nose and a head at Punchestown earlier in the month, won’t be lost on him.
The Eoin Griffin-trained Road To Respect has bumped into a couple of good ones at Punchestown and now faces different opposition in Bellow Mome and Minella Aris in the opening maiden hurdle.
Bellow Mome has placed form on the Flat in France, while Aidan O’Brien’s Minella Aris was a Dromahane points winner last April. The stable had a winner here yesterday when Ivanovich Gorbatov went in. Minella Aris might be the one.
Quality chaser Lyreen Legend tops the weights for the Pertemps Qualifier but is on a comparatively lenient mark for a 152-rated chaser. Grecian Tiger, Mall Dini and Leave at Dawn are also well fancied in this 22-runner three-mile handicap hurdle.
The Christmas Novice Handicap Hurdle is topped by Herminator, who has picked up plenty of experience in France. But Geraghty might be the one again here on Tony Martin’s Whatsforuwontgobyu, with Elusive Ivy a possibility.
NEVILLE RING
12.10pm: Minella Aris
12.45pm: Lyreen Legend
1.20pm: Blazer (Dbl)
1.55pm: Arctic Fire (Nap)
2.30pm: Whatsforuwontgobyu
3.05pm: Don Poli
3.35pm: Some Neck
NEXT BEST
12.10pm: Bellow Mome
12.45pm: Mall Dini
1.20pm: Tell Us More
1.55pm: Alpha Des Obeaux
2.30pm: Elusive Ivy
3.05pm: Sir Des Champs
3.35pm: Broken Soul
