December 26 / 14.20 Leopardstown

14.20

Yielding

Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £49579.83
  • 2m 1f 0y
  • 5 runners
RTE2
View Course
Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

OUR TIP

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £3.30
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 444-32 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
County Hurdle winner in 2020; Grade 1-placed over hurdles and fourth in last season's Champions Hurdle; disappointing favourite in Grade 3 hurdle at Tipperary during the summer; no match for Fil Dor on chasing debut at Navan last month; has his work cut to reverse form with the younger horse on only 2lb better terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

4th Aug 2024

Good To Yielding

2m 2f 54y

15:30 Galway

Saint Roi

11st 12lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: W P Mullins

Smart chaser who put in two promising efforts when runner-up in the Red Rum at Aintree and a competitive handicap at Punchestown behind Plate winner Pinkerton; well held behind that rival four days ago but has leading claims back down to a more suitable trip.

100/30

17th

3

31st Jul 2024

Good

2m 6f 111y

19:10 Galway

Saint Roi

11st 8lb

J: Aidan Kelly

T: W P Mullins

Won a 2m1f Grade 1 at Leopardstown the season before last; returned to form when second in the Red Rum at Aintree; beaten a short head in a valuable 2m Punchestown festival handicap; finished second in a 2m4f Grade 1 at Aintree as a novice, but not certain to stay effectively enough to win a race of this high standard.

14/1

20/1

  • Place: £4.10

Form: 70-112

Last run: 75 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Useful 134-rated hurdler; won his first two starts over fences in July, a 2m Wexford beginners' event and a 2m2f Galway Grade 3 novice; another sound display when second to Adamantly Chosen at Punchestown, 1 1/4l in front of today's rival Midnight Run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 180y

16:50 Killarney

Visionarian

11st 12lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Dropping down the ratings since he won a three-runner Grade 2 contest at Gowran last autumn; no signs of a revival at Wexford last month when finishing well behind; it is hard to fancy him at the moment.

22/1

9th

1

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 110y

16:25 Wexford

Visionarian

11st 12lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Winner of a three-runner Grade 2 at Gowran in October (2m4f, good); well held in stronger Graded contests; poor run in a DRF handicap chase and pulled up when last seen in a handicap chase at the Punchestown festival last time from a 3lb higher mark.

18/1

Form: 222-21 C

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up behind Vauban in three Grade 1s last season; made mistakes and was turned over by Fred Winter winner Brazil when favourite for his return in a Grade 3 hurdle at Naas; switched to fences immediately, and took full advantage of 8lb concession from Saint Roi at Navan; jumped well and has a strong chance of confirming form with Saint Roi.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(7)

2nd Sep 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

17:37 Gowran Park

Fil Dor

9st 9lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart jumper with four wins over hurdles and two over fences including in Grade 2 company; was runner-up on sole Flat start in France in 2021 over this trip; might find this trip a bit sharp now but should run a big race.

11/2

2nd

3

20th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 100y

15:57 Cork

Fil Dor

11st 0lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

raced in second, challenging when briefly left in lead 2 out, soon faced challenge, headed approaching last, no chance with winner run-in

100/30

2nd

3

20th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 100y

15:57 Cork

Fil Dor

11st 0lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

raced in second, challenging when briefly left in lead 2 out, soon faced challenge, headed approaching last, no chance with winner run-in

100/30

Form: 3335-1 C

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
2m4f Grade 3 novice hurdle winner at Navan 13 months ago after winning a point, two bumpers and a maiden hurdle; third in Grade 1 events at Naas and this venue before a creditable third in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham; jumped well and made most when winning easily on chase debut over this trip at Navan.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

2nd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 160y

16:15 Punchestown

Hollow Games

12st 0lb

J: Mr J H Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

midfield, pushed along after 5th, some headway and went remote third before 2 out, kept on, no match for first two

8/1

Form: F-2231 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
In his third season as a novice, though has had only eight attempts; won two bumpers, a hurdle, and a Flat maiden (at Ballinrobe in July); twice beaten favourite in chases won by the progressive Enniskerry in July/September; only third in Grade 3 at Punchestown in October but came good when making all in a Grade 2 event at the same venue last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

15th Mar 2023

Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:50 Cheltenham

Midnight Run

11st 5lb

J: B J Cooper

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Recorded some smart efforts in defeat before coming good at the eighth time of asking over fences when making all in Grade 2 at Punchestown (2m1f, yielding) in November; given a break since fading to finish a remote last of five in a Leopardstow n Grade 1 over Christmas; this is his first start in a handicap over fences.

20/1

5th

2

26th Dec 2022

Yielding

2m 1f 0y

14:20 Leopardstown

Midnight Run

11st 12lb

J: Mr T Hamilton

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

prominent, mistake 5 out, pushed along towards rear after 4 out, headway and prominent 3 out, ridden and dropped to rear approaching last

16/1

1st

6

19th Nov 2022

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 180y

13:03 Punchestown

Midnight Run

11st 4lb

J: B J Cooper

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

made all, pushed along and went clear after 3 out, went further clear approaching last, easily

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €42.20
Straight Forecast €40.89
Trifecta €81.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Fil Dor

TOPSPEED:

Midnight Run

RP Ratings (IRE):

Fil Dor

POSTDATA:

Fil Dor

The Irish Sun:

Fil Dor