December 28 / 14.20 Leopardstown

14.20

Soft

Savills Chase (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £86764.71
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • 8 runners
ITV4
View Course
Savills Chase (Grade 1)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.40
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 11F2-3 CD

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 168

Form & Verdict
Surprise winner of the Irish Gold Cup here in February, getting an easy time of it on the front end; was in the process of chasing home Allaho in the Ryanair before making a mistake and coming down at the penultimate fence; signed off the season with another solid run when runner-up in the Bowl; appeared to be in need of the run on reappearance at Down Royal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

16

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Conflated

10st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Gordon Elliott

Finished third in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup; showed some spark around Punchestown's banks course this February but this 12yo is nothing like the force of old and was well beaten in the cross-country race at Cheltenham last month; without a win since December 2022 and looks up against it.

66/1

9th

5

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Conflated

10st 7lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Top class over regulation fences in his prime (dual 3m Grade 1 winner) but has regressed and become inconsistent; gave a pretty good account when placed behind Vanillier on Bank course at Punchestown (3m1f, soft to heavy; refitted cheekpieces/first-time tongue-tie) last month but was well beaten on his only C&D start (in 2024); younger rivals appeal much more.

25/1

3rd

6

4th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 193y

12:28 Punchestown

Conflated

11st 4lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

High-class in his day, winning a brace of Grade 1 Leopardstown contests at 3m; not at that level nowadays, including fourth in C&D cross-country chase at last year's festival; runner-up on latest two runs in point-to-points, most recently at Tyrella 11 days ago; new headgear combination; Jack Kennedy prefers The Goffer.

7/2

7/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 4-6222 CD

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 161

Form & Verdict
Not beaten far when third in this event last season, but could manage only fifth behind Conflated in the Irish Gold Cup in February; twice no match for stablemate Easy Game over 2m4f in the autumn; managed to get the better of Conflated and a below-par Galvin when second in 3m Grade 1 event at Down Royal early last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

25th Feb 2023

Yielding

3m 1f 110y

15:55 Fairyhouse

Kemboy

11st 0lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

made virtually all, soon led, briefly headed 2nd, not fluent 5th, pushed along and faced challenge when not fluent 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well but reduced lead towards finish, just did enough

7/4

6th

5

4th Feb 2023

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 44y

15:05 Leopardstown

Kemboy

11st 10lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: W P Mullins

led, briefly headed halfway, headed before 3 out, pushed along and weakened from 2 out

10/1

2nd

7

28th Dec 2022

Soft

3m 0f 0y

14:20 Leopardstown

Kemboy

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

led, headed and raced in second after 9th, headway disputing lead after 5 out, headed 3 out, jumped slightly right 2 out, ridden and chased clear leader approaching last, kept on, no match for winner

7/1

Form: 1523-1 CD

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 155

Form & Verdict
Grade 1 novice winner from shorter-priced stablemate Run Wild Fred over C&D last Christmas; chased home Ahoy Senor at Aintree before lesser display at Punchestown; gave a resolute performance over a shorter trip than ideal on seasonal debut in Grade 2 event at Down Royal; best part of a stone inferior to stablemates Galvin and Conflated.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

3rd Jun 2024

Good

2m 3f 0y

16:20 Listowel

Fury Road

11st 2lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

in rear, detached from 3rd, pulled up with one circuit to go

20/1

4th

3

13th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 100y

18:40 Killarney

Fury Road

11st 8lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

in touch with leaders, pushed along briefly after 10th, struggling and weakened after 4 out

20/1

4th

3

13th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 100y

18:40 Killarney

Fury Road

11st 8lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

in touch with leaders, pushed along briefly after 10th, struggling and weakened after 4 out

20/1

Form: 0-3455 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 156

Form & Verdict
No further success since winning 2m1f Grade 1 novice here two years ago; best efforts last season, second in the Thyestes Chase and third in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris; not at best on two visits to Auteuil this season; up against it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:18 Warwick

Franco De Port

11st 12lb

J: Mr Daniel Williams

T: Miss Nikki Henton

Grade 1 novice chase winner for Willie Mullins in 2020 but absent since running respectably in Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris in May 2023 and it's very hard to gauge how much ability he retains.

20/1

3rd

9

15th Mar 2023

Soft

3m 6f 37y

Class 2

16:10 Cheltenham

Franco De Port

11st 7lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Grade 1 novice chase winner at Leopardstown in December 2020 and creditable fourth in the 3m Grade 1 Savills Chase there in December this season; this classy sort is Willie Mullins' sole contender and could have a part to play if he takes to this unique course at the first attempt.

7/1

Form: 613-12 C

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 151

Form & Verdict
Returned from a break to win over hurdles at Thurles in October; showed useful form over fences in the spring, winning a 2m2f Grade 3 event at Thurles, then taking third in 2m5f novice handicap at Punchestown; fine second behind Ga Law in Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham; faces tough task at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

19th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

16:15 Limerick

French Dynamite

11st 12lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: E McNamara

Three chase wins, including a 2m7f Grade 3 at Punchestown last October; often highly tried when with Mouse Morris; creditable third in the Kerry National on stable debut; fair chance with 5lb off again; trainer (responsible for last year's winner) also has Weveallbeencaught in the line-up.

9/1

3rd

5

24th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 7f 180y

16:23 Listowel

French Dynamite

11st 6lb

J: G B Noonan

T: E McNamara

Three chase wins, including a 2m7f Grade 3 at Punchestown last October; often highly tried when with Mouse Morris; his new trainer knows what it takes to win this; possible each-way value.

20/1

2nd

6

3rd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

French Dynamite

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Brouder

T: M F Morris

Three chase wins, including a 2m7f Grade 3 at this venue last October, beating Minella Indo; ran well for a long way before weakening in the Cross Country Handicap at Cheltenham; never threatened in the Topham.

7/1

Form: 146-14 CD BF

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 166

Form & Verdict
Won this event last season, beating A Plus Tard and Kemboy by a short head and 3/4l; fourth to A Plus Tard in Cheltenham Gold Cup, well held at Punchestown at the end of the campaign; solid return when landing a Grade 3 at Punchestown, ran a lifeless race when favourite for Grade 1 Down Royal event.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

12th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Galvin

11st 7lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Grade 1 chase winner in his prime; not getting any younger and absent since close second in US Grade 1 hurdle in October but came second in non-handicap version of this race in 2023 (soft) and is now 1lb lower than when placed in last season's Grand National; drying ground will probably aid his cause; claims.

4/1

4th

17

3rd Feb 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 44y

16:40 Punchestown

Galvin

12st 0lb

T: Gordon Elliott

First reserve; Grade 1-winning chaser was 2nd in a valuable race in USA on last start; a player

4th

17

3rd Feb 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 44y

16:40 Punchestown

Galvin

12st 0lb

T: Gordon Elliott

First reserve; Grade 1-winning chaser was 2nd in a valuable race in USA on last start; a player

Form: 112P1-

Last run: 245 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 165

Form & Verdict
Galway Plate winner in 2021 and later won a 2m4f Grade 2 event at Gowran; did not take to the Aintree fences when pulled-up in the Topham; bounced back from that to win a 2m5f handicap chase at the Punchestown festival, earning promotion to 165; first time over 3m since winning a point-to-point in 2017.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

3rd May 2024

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 160y

17:25 Punchestown

Royal Rendezvous

12st 0lb

J: Mr B Dunleavy

T: Mrs Caroline McCaldin

Ex-Willie Mullins, best known for winning the 2021 Galway Plate; also beat Hardline in a 2m4f Grade 2 event at Gowran later that year; won a valuable handicap chase at this meeting two years ago, second in the same race last season; tailed off at Portrush in March on first start for Caroline McCaldin, may have needed that, and perhaps premature to write off.

12/1

11

3rd May 2024

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 160y

17:25 Punchestown

Royal Rendezvous

12st 0lb

J: Mr B Dunleavy

T: Mrs Caroline McCaldin

Ex-Willie Mullins, best known for winning the 2021 Galway Plate; also beat Hardline in a 2m4f Grade 2 event at Gowran later that year; won a valuable handicap chase at this meeting two years ago, second in the same race last season; tailed off at Portrush in March on first start for Caroline McCaldin, may have needed that, and perhaps premature to write off.

12/1

2nd

1

26th Apr 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 50y

19:05 Punchestown

Royal Rendezvous

11st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

jumped right on occasions, prominent, led 2nd, not fluent 10th, headed after 3 out, pushed along and lost second after 2 out, ridden and went second again run-in, no match for winner

13/2

Form: /121-P CD BF

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 180

Form & Verdict
Emphatic Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in March, having finished second to stablemate Minella Indo 12 months earlier; started last season with a wide-margin Betfair Chase win, but lost out by a short head to Galvin in this race last year; now has to bounce back from dismal Haydock display on reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

28th Dec 2023

Yielding

3m 0f 100y

14:25 Leopardstown

A Plus Tard

11st 10lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

Beaten a short head by Galvin in this race two seasons ago as a prelude to 15l victory from stablemate Minella Indo in the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup; ran only three times last season, pulled up in the Betfair Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup; found nothing at Aintree on final start; begins new campaign with questions to answer.

14/1

3rd

2

13th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

A Plus Tard

11st 10lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

Has a question to answer having been pulled up in both outings this term, although had no luck (badly hampered after six out, unable to recover) in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on latest; highly impressive in that race and the Betfair Chase last season, both on good to soft; would have the best chance if surging back to that form.

5/2

2

17th Mar 2023

Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

15:30 Cheltenham

A Plus Tard

11st 10lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

Two brilliant wins at this meeting, notably surpassing a second in this race in 2021 when tearing up the hill last March (good to soft; acts well on soft) for one of the best Gold Cup performances in recent times; seen only once since, when returning a sick horse from his first-ever off day at Haydock in November, and although recent reports are encouraging it would be pretty special if he can produce the same performance as 12 months ago after such a poor preparation.

9/2

Non-runners

A Plus Tard

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €8.20
Straight Forecast €9.63
Tricast €39.92
Trifecta €42.30

Selections

RP Ratings (IRE):

A Plus Tard

The Irish Sun:

Galvin

SPOTLIGHT:

Conflated

POSTDATA:

Kemboy

TOPSPEED:

A Plus Tard