December 26 / 14.20 Leopardstown

14.20

Yielding

Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £52212.39
  • 2m 1f 0y
  • 4 runners
RTE2
View Course
Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.40

Form: 284-12

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner; useful novice hurdling form last season before failing to prosper in Grade 1 company at Aintree and Punchestown (remote fourth behind Facile Vega); made all to win readily on chasing debut at Down Royal; found the Irish Grand National winner I Am Maximus too strong in the Drinmore over 2m4f at Fairyhouse; looks a clear second-best here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 180y

16:20 Fairyhouse

Found A Fifty

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Eight-time chase winner; beat Majborough and Energumene at Cork in December; won this race last year, holding off the late challenge of Saint Sam (Blood Destiny a 7.25l third); pulled up in the Champion Chase last time, but this is more his level and he is the one to beat.

7/4

3

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Found A Fifty

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Fared best of the rest behind the impressive winner in the 2024 Arkle but weakened into last of five finishers in this contest last season and has largely fallen short at Grade 1 level in open company; beaten 19l by Majborough at this year's Dublin Racing Festival and flopped when back down in class at Navan (2m4f; blowing hard post race) later in February.

33/1

4th

2

28th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 90y

16:08 Navan

Found A Fifty

11st 8lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Eight-time chase winner, including the 2m Fortria at this venue twice; beat top-class mare Dinoblue in this season's edition and then took the notable scalp of Majborough in the Hilly Way at Cork; has since suffered two heavy defeats in 2m1f Grade 1 races at Leopardstown; now back over 2m4f for the first time since beating Saint Sam at Fairyhouse last April.

13/8

Form: 03-321

Last run: 60 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Versatile sort, point/bumper/Flat winner; very useful hurdler, close third in this season's Galway Hurdle; found little when beaten by a 50-1 chance on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse; readily coped with modest opposition at Cheltenham two months ago; tongue-tie retained now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

(6)

17th Jun 2025

Good

1m 6f 34y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

My Mate Mozzie

9st 4lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Gavin Cromwell

No threat on his last two Flat starts last August/September but was third of 16 in this 12 months ago (good to firm) when 1lb lower; ran well at the Cheltenham Festival in March; holds each-way claims once more.

12/1

8th

3

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

My Mate Mozzie

11st 13lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Sterling all-purpose type who hasn't won since late 2023 but has been involved in strong events on the Flat, including at Royal Ascot, over hurdles and fences since; ran as well as he ever has when a close fourth in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) last month; solid claims in refitted cheekpieces.

9/2

8th

3

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

My Mate Mozzie

11st 13lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Sterling all-purpose type who hasn't won since late 2023 but has been involved in strong events on the Flat, including at Royal Ascot, over hurdles and fences since; ran as well as he ever has when a close fourth in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) last month; solid claims in refitted cheekpieces.

9/2

Form: 4-2114 C

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Six-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles with four of those victories gained in this venue's 2m Matheson Hurdle; latecomer to chasing; won readily over 2m2f at Galway; jumped well when landing 2m4f Grade 3 event at Tipperary in effortless fashion; found nothing off the bridle in the Drinmore; unlikely to be a match for stablemate Facile Vega.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

30th Apr 2024

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

18:00 Punchestown

Sharjah

11st 10lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

High-class hurdler had been mixing it at the top level over fences this season at shorter trips before third chase win when dropped in grade at Ayr 10 days ago, patiently ridden and seeing the 3m out well when giving away lumps of weight in novice handicap; drying ground should help his cause and not one to rule out.

10/1

6th

6

30th Apr 2024

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

18:00 Punchestown

Sharjah

11st 10lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

High-class hurdler had been mixing it at the top level over fences this season at shorter trips before third chase win when dropped in grade at Ayr 10 days ago, patiently ridden and seeing the 3m out well when giving away lumps of weight in novice handicap; drying ground should help his cause and not one to rule out.

10/1

1st

1

20th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:50 Ayr

Sharjah

12st 0lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Top-class hurdler who has shown a good level of form over fences, banging his head against a wall in Grade 1s in his last four appearances; finished fourth in last season's County Hurdle in his last handicap assignment and that was off an 8lb higher mark; may run well, though stamina could be an issue on this belated first run beyond 2m4f.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1521-1 C

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Top bumper horse two seasons ago, winning all four starts, including Grade 1s at Cheltenham and Punchestown; won three of his five starts over hurdles last season, and second in the Supreme Novices'; had an excuse at this venue in February; gradually warmed to his task on his chasing debut at Navan; room for improvement in his jumping; hard to oppose.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

14th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 168y

Class 1

13:30 Cheltenham

Facile Vega

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Has raced only at 2m-2m1f; versatile ground-wise; an exciting horse early in career and has performed well in both Cheltenham Festival attempts, winning the Champion Bumper in 2022 then runner-up in the Supreme last year; beaten twice since scoring on debut over fences but wasn't disgraced in the Irish Arkle latest; may take his form to the next level over this new trip, being out of Quevega who won the 2m4f Mares' Hurdle at this meeting six times; very interesting with that in mind.

15/8

3rd

1

3rd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 1f 0y

14:25 Leopardstown

Facile Vega

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

soon raced in second, joined leader after 3 out, challenging when carried left before last, not fluent and pecked on landing last, soon lost second and ridden, no match for first two

9/2

4th

1

26th Dec 2023

Yielding

2m 1f 0y

14:20 Leopardstown

Facile Vega

11st 12lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Top bumper horse two seasons ago, winning all four starts, including Grade 1s at Cheltenham and Punchestown; won three of his five starts over hurdles last season, and second in the Supreme Novices'; had an excuse at this venue in February; gradually warmed to his task on his chasing debut at Navan; room for improvement in his jumping; hard to oppose.

2/7

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €19.70
Straight Forecast €24.76
Trifecta €117.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Facile Vega

TOPSPEED:

Sharjah

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Facile Vega

POSTDATA:

Facile Vega

The Irish Sun:

Facile Vega