DINOBLUE probably won’t get a better opportunity of grabbing a Grade One success and is fancied to strike at the top level in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown this afternoon.
There are some good horses in the two-mile-one contest but it looks to be lacking the star performer of recent years.
The admirably consistent Captain Guinness probably sets the standard and comes into the race in fine form, after his win at Navan last month.
He has been a wonderful servant for connections but is just short of the very top level.
With a rating of 162 he is actually second top rated to Gentleman de Mee, who has a mark 3lb superior.
His form can be a bit hit and miss though and his record suggests he tends to improve for a run.
Willie Mullins saddles four of the five runners, three of them for JP McManus, and it looks significant that Mark Walsh partners the in-form mare Dinoblue.
She is still progressive at the age of six and was a good winner from a solid yardstick in Fil Dor on her return at Naas last month.
With her mares’ allowance she’s bang there on ratings and looks the horse in the race that may just be on an upward curve.
Mullins could very well land a big-race double, with Daddy Long Legs a leading contender in the Grade One Future Champions Novice Hurdle.
The Almanzor gelding was very impressive on his hurdling bow at Thurles last month when showing a nice change of gear to settle matters before the final flight.
He had shaped with plenty of promise when narrowly denied on his sole outing on the Flat in France and looks like a very classy recruit.
The obvious danger in the race is the Gordon Elliott-trained Down Memory Lane.
He comes here with an unbeaten record, having landed a point-to-point, bumper and maiden hurdle.
The Walk In The Park gelding showed gears when winning his maiden hurdle at Down Royal last month but you’d presume he may need further than this two miles in time to show his absolute best.
Even with two Grade One contests on the card the chase debut of Marine Nationale is probably the most anticipated race of the day.
Barry Connell’s brilliant Supreme Novice winner is one of the most exciting young horses in training and puts his unbeaten record on the line in the two-mile-one contest.
The French Navy gelding is likely to be a short price and having already schooled over fences early in his career it would be a major shock if he couldn’t make a winning start over the larger obstacles.
