In the year of its 21st anniversary celebration, the Paddy Power Chase on 27^th December, Day Two of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival is now worth a record €200,000 and has attracted a bumper entry of 55 in total. 

Gordon Elliott, successful with Noble Endeavor last year is responsible for 13 of those. The highest-rated of his early contenders is the Kerry National winner Potters Point (11st 7lbs) while Ucello Conti, runner-up in this race in 2015, and the novice Sutton Manor have been allotted 11st 5lbs and 10st 12lbs respectively. Squouateur has been given 10st 7lbs and is the shortest-priced of the Elliott team on 10/1 with sponsors Paddy Power. 

Like Elliott, champion trainer Willie Mullins has one win in the Paddy Power Chase to his name. He scored with Rockyaboya in 2013 and has made five entries with Polidam, the early 9/2 favourite, and Acapella Bourgeois, second favourite on 8/1, set to carry 11st 6lbs and 11st 10lbs. The pair finished first and second in the Foxrock Handicap Chase over two and a half miles at Navan last Saturday. Pleasant Company, a 14/1 chance, also sits close to the top of the handicap on 11st 7lbs. Tony Martin last won this race with Living Next Door in 2014 and Anibale Fly (11st 8lbs) and Sunday’s Punchestown winner White Arm (9st 12lbs) are his entries. They have been priced at 12/1 and 16/1 respectively. 

Topping the weights on 11st 10lbs are Acapella Bourgeois and the Noel Meade-trained A Genie In Abottle and Road To Riches. A winner over hurdles at Naas last month, the Tom Mullins-trained Oscar Knight, third in the race last year, has 10st 10lbs this time. Mall Dini, trained by Pat Kelly, has 11st 3lbs to carry and is rated a 10/1 chance by the sponsors. 

The Edward O’Grady-trained The West’s Awake is set to carry 11st after his comfortable success at Punchestown late last month. Red Devil Lads also scored last time out, over hurdles, and Emmet Mullins’ eight-year-old is on 10st 4lbs. Youcantcallherthat is chasing a hat-trick of wins after victories at Cork and Fairyhouse and Denis Hogan’s charge has 10st 1lb. 

There have been two British-trained winners of the race and Dell’ Arca (11st) could yet represent trainer David Pipe. The eight-year-old hasn’t run over fences since November 2015 but he is twice a winner over hurdles since, most recently at Newbury early last month. 

Pat Keogh, Chief Executive of Leopardstown Racecourse, said, “This race is unrivalled in its competitiveness and is one of the most anticipated of the Christmas Festival, with increased prizemoney we are delighted it has continued to attract a strong number of entries. We look forward to watching the most valuable race of the Christmas festival unfold and see who will join the roll call of high calibre horses that have won this race.”

Paddy Power Prices:
Polidam 9/2
Acapella Bourgeois 8/1
Mall Dini 10/1
Squouateur 10/1
Anibale Fly 12/1
Pleasant Company 14/1
Ucello Conti 16/1
White Arm 16/1
General Principle 20/1
Jetstream Jack 20/1
Sutton Manor 20/1
Oscar Knight 20/1
Out Sam 20/1
Close Shave 20/1
Milsean 20/1
A Genie In Abottle 25/1
The Wests Awake 25/1
Bay Of Freedom 25/1
Bonny Kate 25/1
On Fiddlers Green 25/1
Vieux Morvan 25/1
Space Cadet 25/1
Phil’s Magic 25/1
Youcantcallherthat 25/1
Poormans Hill 25/1
Racing Pulse 25/1
Road To Riches 33/1
Potters Point 33/1
Apache Stronghold 33/1
Attribution 33/1
Dell’ Arca 33/1
Three Stars 33/1
Flaxen Flare 33/1
Call The Taxie 33/1
Woods Well 33/1
Dromnea 33/1
Forever Gold 33/1
Fine Theatre 33/1
Full Cry 33/1
Tesseract 33/1
Vent De La Cote 33/1
Teachers Pet 33/1
Magic Of Light 33/1
Retour En France 33/1
Whatareudoingtome 33/1
De Name Escapes Me 33/1
Cocktails At Dawn 40/1
Rogue Angel 40/1
Red Devil Lads 40/1
Baily Moon 40/1
King Leon 40/1
He Rocks 40/1
Dounikos 40/1
Thunder And Roses 50/1
Jarob 50/1
Texas Jack 66/1

PREVIOUS WINNERS:  GRADE B - PADDY POWER HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE

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This race is unrivalled in its competitiveness and is one of the most anticipated of the Christmas Festival, with increased prizemoney we are delighted it has continued to attract a strong number of entries. We look forward to watching the most valuable race of the Christmas festival unfold and see who will join the roll call of high calibre horses that have won this race.