Identity Thief and Min ready to roll at Leopardstown

Views from connections ahead of the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown where Min and Identity Thief clash.

Identity Thief and Min clash in what promises to be an enthralling renewal of the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Willie Mullins has saddled three of the last five winners of this Grade One event, with the brilliant Douvan destroying his rivals 12 months ago.

Having made a winning start to his career over fences in the same Navan beginners' chase won by Douvan and Vautour before him, Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up Min is set to line up as a hot favourite.

But he faces a formidable rival in the form of Henry de Bromhead's Identity Thief.

Mullins' son, Patrick, got the call-up to ride Douvan in last year's renewal, but will be an observer this time, with Ruby Walsh in attendance.

Mullins jnr said: "Min is hugely exciting and his chasing debut in Navan was everything you'd want.

"He has the physique of a chaser, so we'd hope he'll be a better horse over fences than he was over hurdles.

"This is obviously a very hot race and it will be a huge test. It will be interesting to see where we fit in.

"Identity Thief was a very good hurdler and I thought his jumping was spectacular in Punchestown.

"He has bit more experience than Min and is probably the one we have to beat.

"It should be a cracking race."

Identity Thief mixed it at the very highest level over hurdles last season, winning the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle before finishing sixth in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and runner-up in the equivalent event at Punchestown.

He has certainly looked the part since having his attentions turned to the larger obstacles, winning twice at Punchestown, including a Grade Two triumph in last month's Craddockstown Novice Chase.

De Bromhead also saddles Craddockstown runner-up Ordinary World and Three Stars, who has been placed in Graded company at Cheltenham and Navan on his last two starts.

"Identity Thief is in good form and won well the last day," said the Knockeen-based trainer.

"I'm not worried about the ground getting soft. He had a very good run with Nichols Canyon on heavy ground and won the Fighting Fifth on soft.

"Ordinary World ran really well in the Craddockstown, so we're looking forward to running him as well.

"He beat Attribution in his beginners' chase and he has come out and won a Grade Three since, so that's good form.

"Three Stars ran well behind Attribution and deserves to take his chance."

The Mouse Morris-trained Baily Cloud, Noel Meade's Road To Respect and Tully East from Alan Fleming's yard complete the line-up.