Leopardstown Dublin Chase Guide

Trainer - Henry De Bromhead

Jockey - Rachael Blackmore

One of the races of the festival is the Dublin Chase and the first runner we will talk about is A Plus Tard that has just been a super recruit for Henry De Bromhead.

The six year old has not finished outside of the top three on his last eight runs with seven of them coming for his current trainer which is just remarkable.

He made his name on the big stage when winning the Listed Close Brothers Novices Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham festival last season looking like a Graded horse in a handicap.

This season he has proven his credentials when last time out landing a Grade One over course and distance at Leopardstown seeing off Chacun Pour Soi which looks some big form.

Trainer - Peter Fahey

Jockey - Bryan Cooper

This nine year old is the big 66/1 outsider having a number of factors going against him in this field with one of the main negatives being he is yet to have a run this season.

Last season he was a smart two miler but when upped in class to a Grade One he gets over powered and especially this being his seasonal bow he looks very opposable.

Trainer - Willie Mullins

Jockey - Paul Townend

This French exploit has been tipped to be one of the yards superstars this season and still could be having only ran three times for the trainer in three years with a career littered with injuries.

In his three runs the seven year old has been superb winning at Naas in March of last year in a beginners chase and then he rounded off the season by winning the Grade One Ryanair Novice Chase seeing off the Arkle and JLT winners at Cheltenham.

He made his seasonal reappearance over the Christmas period at Leopardstown when looking to be dominating the race late only to run out of steam towards the line and be beaten by A Plus Tard.

The run was definitely what he needed and he can reverse the form in this contest if improving from his last run.

Trainer - Willie Mullins

Jockey - Danny Mullins

The second of Willie Mullins runners in the contest where he fields four is Cilaos Emery who has been faultless over fences winning all three of his chase starts.

He ran a year ago at Gowran on his chase debut a saw off a decent field of 17 to land a Beginners Chase, he then suffered a slight injury which saw him miss Cheltenham and the rest of the season.

Back this term he picked up from where he left off in the Grade Three Polar Chase showing clear jumping ability, he then backed that up when taking the Grade Two Hilly Way Chase at Cork which sets him up nicely for a big run here.

Huge each way player.

Trainer - Willie Mullins

Jockey - Mark Walsh

Last season's Arkle winner is the next of the Mullins quartet to be analysed and this seven year old was a shock winner of the Grade One at Cheltenham last year and would also be a shock winner of this contest.

Looks the most vulnerable of the yards runners from what he has done after his breakthrough win and he will have to be massively better than what he has done this campaign to even grab a place.

Trainer - Willie Mullins

Jockey - Robbie Power

One of the most interesting runners of the contest is Min who is the last of Willie Mullins' assault on the Grade One but this frequent black type winner has to enter calculations.

The nine year old is seeking a hat-trick in this contest and has entered the race the last two years after winning the Grade One John Durkan Chase at Punchestown which he also won this season.

He is a proven, stand out athlete that looks the value bet at 3/1 if being able to see off the young pretenders in Chacun Pour Soi and A Plus Tard.

Trainer - Henry De Bromhead

Jockey - Davy Russell

Ordinary World is another outsider in this event and athough being a very smart gelding, with the field that is set to go to post he will be outclassed and does not have age on his side.

He was second to Min in this last year which was a career best performance but last time out was a long way third behind Chacun Pour Soi and A Plus Tard and it would take a miracle to over turn that form.

Trainer - Henry De Bromhead

Jockey - Dylan Robinson

The final runner of the contest is the 100/1 shot Ornua who gave a career best last season when landing the Maghull Novices' Chase at the Grand National Meeting.

However, since then he has been very below par, jumping badly and not showing any scope to improve and that makes him opposable in this event.