Racecards
13:15 Leopardstown (IRE)
Paddy's Rewards Club Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Yielding (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €100,000 added
- Winner: €59,000
- 2nd: €19,000
- 3rd: €9,000
- 4th: €4,000
- Form 1233-31
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 158
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Jack Kennedy
waited with in 4th, closed to chase leaders before 4 out, soon effort, no impression in 4th when mistake and unseated rider last
- Form 112/11-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 160
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Paul Townend
disputed lead early, led 2nd, strongly pressed and edged left run-in and hampered rival, all out, demoted to 2nd
- Form 12232-2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey D N Russell
chased leaders, effort from before straight, 3rd before last, soon no extra, one pace
- Form 2397-24
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey Mark Walsh
held up, chased leaders from halfway, improved to challenge in 2nd and hampered twice run-in, kept on well, promoted to 1st
- Form F2/410-9
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Sean Flanagan
disputed lead, bad mistake 2nd and headed, jumped left 6th, rear next, behind and not fluent last
- Form 11-F331
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey R M Power
in rear, not fluent 3 out, chased leaders but no impression from before next
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
MIN can join the ranks of top performers who have won this including Moscow Flyer, Sizing Europe and Douvan last year. A superb novice hurdler whose only defeat for Willie Mullins came when runner-up to Altior in the Supreme at Cheltenham, he's hardly broken sweat in three runs over fences, the latest after a very long break, and though taking on much stronger opposition it will be a surprise if he's beaten. Ball D'arc is much more experienced having won five of his 15 starts over fences and he's been placed at the highest level. He had Ordinary World 5l back in second at Naas last time though doesn't have the scope of the selection but Simply Ned, who is 4-25 over the bigger obstacles and was sent over here to finish third twelve months ago, should put his experience to good use if the selection doesn't come up to scratch.
Formwatch
Ball D'Arc (FR) 6-4fav (11-10) Tracked leader disputing 2nd, went 2nd 4 out, ridden to dispute lead 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on well run-in, won at Naas 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Ordinary World (11-1) by 5l, 6 ran.
Min (FR) 1-9fav (11-5) Soon led, jumped high and pecked 1st, went on from 10th, stayed on well straight, very easily, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f hvy in Nov beating Flaxen Flare (11-6) by 36l, 3 ran.
Ordinary World (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Tracked leader disputing 2nd, 3rd 4 out, progress on outer into close 3rd 2 out, ridden in 2nd approaching last, kept on same pace in 2nd run-in, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Ball D'arc (11-10) at Naas 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Simply Ned (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Tracked front pair, outpaced after 3 out, ridden and stayed on to dispute well beaten 2nd flat, no extra towards finish, 4th of 5, 9 1/2l behind Fox Norton (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Tell Us More (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Mid-division, jumped left 3rd and bumped rival, moderate 9th at 4th, closer order 5 out, no impression when jumped left 2 out, 9th of 13, 32 1/4l behind Ballyoisin (11-10) at Cork 2m 1f hcp Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Woodland Opera (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Led early, headed and dropped to 2nd before 2nd, jumped slightly left 8th and almost on terms after next, pushed along to lead before 2 out and soon ridden, pressed from last and kept on best run-in, won at Punchestown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Tombstone (11-4) by 1/2l, 4 ran.