December 27 / 13.10 Leopardstown

13.10

Good To Yielding

Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £64130.43
  • 2m 1f 0y
  • 9 runners
RTE2
View Course
Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase (Grade 1)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 83/4-4 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Six-time chase winner, including three Grade 1s, but hasn't won since landing this race in 2022; only ran once last season, a 6.5l fourth of six behind Fastorslow in the John Durkan; trailed in 28l behind Energumene in the Hilly Way on latest; may have needed that but would have liked to see more; needs a revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

30th Apr 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 80y

18:05 Punchestown

Blue Lord

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

in touch with leaders, chased clear leader 8th

6/1

1

30th Apr 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 80y

18:05 Punchestown

Blue Lord

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

in touch with leaders, chased clear leader 8th

6/1

3

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Blue Lord

11st 8lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Three Grade 1 wins in 2022; this 10yo isn't the same force nowadays but he took a step back in right direction when 13l third of six in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase (2m5f, good) latest; on a dangerous mark and not ruled out.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: P312-P

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 164

Form & Verdict
Last season's Champion Chase winner at Cheltenham; ran a blinder when a neck behind Banbridge in the Irish Champion Chase at Punchestown in April; was worryingly below par for his seasonal reappearance when pulled up at Navan, a race he won in 2022 and 2023; record at this venue isn't great and others look more solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Captain Guinness

11st 10lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Henry De Bromhead

Has a good record (213) in the Champion Chase but is by no means certain to sustain it; proved a somewhat fortuitous winner of a weak edition two years ago (on soft ground) when the race fell apart and only three runners completed; far from solid on his form this term, below par in Grade 3 most recently, and returns to Cheltenham as an 11yo who may be on the wane; wears first-time headgear.

50/1

3rd

3

22nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 0y

16:30 Naas

Captain Guinness

11st 1lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Six-time chase winner, the highlight being the 2024 Champion Chase (2m, soft); not at his best last season but signed off with a solid runner-up finish behind Marine Nationale at Punchestown (2m, yielding); pulled up on seasonal return in the Fortria at Navan (2m, soft to heavy) and tailed off at Leopardstown last time (2m1f, yielding); should be a player here but he's a risky proposition given his form although trainer reported him to be 'really coming to himself' in a recent stable tour.

13/8

2nd

1

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 98y

18:00 Punchestown

Captain Guinness

11st 12lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

raced in second, challenging 2 out, no chance with winner from last, kept on

20/1

Form: 221-11 CD

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 162

Form & Verdict
5-8 over fences and has never finished out of the first two; has won his last three, a Grade 1 Novice at Aintree (2m, good to soft) in April and Grade 2s at Down Royal (19.5f, good to yielding) and Navan (2m, yielding) last month (beat Solness by a neck despite jumping and hanging right); no match for Gaelic Warrior in the Arkle and hard to see him turning that around.
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: 11U12- C BF

Last run: 239 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 166

Form & Verdict
Last season's leading novice; 3-5 over fences including two Grade 1s; had 8.5l to spare when winning the Arkle in fine style at Cheltenham in March; may have been over the top when beaten by Il Etait Temps on his latest start at Punchestown in May; has an excellent record when fresh and he is the one to beat now moving into open company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

18:05 Punchestown

Gaelic Warrior

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Confirmed his staying power with Bowl win at Aintree last year; got his campaign off to a fine start with John Durkan victory from Fact To File over 2m4f here; third in a blanket finish in the King George before 5l second to a restored Fact To File at Leopardstown; travelled powerfully for stunningly impressive Gold Cup triumph to leap-frog Fact To File in the ratings.

11/10

1st

3

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Gaelic Warrior

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Won the Arkle here (2m, soft) in March 2024 and relished the step up to 3m1f in the Grade 1 Bowl at Aintree (good to soft) last April; that win has been the catalyst for a string of excellent efforts, including his third in a blanket finish in the King George (3m, good to soft) in December and his 5l second in the Irish Gold Cup (3m, soft) last month; can be difficult to settle which is something of a concern in view of today's stiff stamina test, but on the flip side he's been finishing his races strongly; respected.

4/1

2nd

5

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

Gaelic Warrior

11st 10lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Won the Arkle at Cheltenham in 2024; kept at shorter distances until impressive in the Grade 1 Bowl at Aintree (3m1f, good to soft) last April; ended the campaign with a fine Sandown win and began again in style, edging out Fact To File in the John Durkan; third in a thrilling King George; will need to settle better to maximise his chance at this track.

5/1

Form: 42U-35 CD

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict
4-16 over fences; took the scalp of Blue Lord in the Grade 1 Dublin Chase over this C&D in February 2023; winless since but did get to within 1.5l of Captain Guinness when runner-up in the Champion Chase in March; needs to bounce back from poor reappearance run behind Found A Fifty at Navan; others look more likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

11th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 100y

18:37 Killarney

Gentleman De Mee

11st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: W P Mullins

Tends to come good when faced with drier ground and was an excellent fourth in the Topham at Aintree, a race he won the previous year; joint top-rated here and clearly a strong candidate.

7/4

4th

3

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Gentleman De Mee

11st 12lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

10yo who hasn't been at his best this season but it was the same story last term prior to him winning this race (good to soft); he's just 3lb higher than 12 months ago and is capable of playing another leading role.

15/2

3rd

3

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 66y

15:20 Thurles

Gentleman De Mee

11st 3lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

A dual Grade 1 winner over 2m earlier in his career; put up a fine weight-carrying performance to win the Topham Trophy (2m5f) at Aintree last April, and not far off Appreciate It when fourth in the Oaksey Chase; beaten a long way at Clonmel on return and fared no better at Tramore; may show a revival.

7/2

Form: 1/15-2 CD BF

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten in bumpers and three starts over hurdles, including the Supreme Novice in 2023; impressive when winning his beginners' at this meeting last year but came up short in the Irish Arkle subsequently; may have needed his comeback at Naas last month but it was a disappointing effort; it is too soon to write him off but he has a bit to prove for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 98y

18:05 Punchestown

Marine Nationale

11st 12lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Barry Connell

The 2025 Champion Chaser arrives here a fresher horse than most after missing Cheltenham with a sore neck; returned to action at Leopardstown in December with a pleasing effort behind Solness after making an early mistake; no match for Majborough at the DRF on testing ground but he's a much better horse on a sounder surface; won this in fine style last year and could repeat the dose.

2/1

2nd

4

1st Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 1f 0y

14:10 Leopardstown

Marine Nationale

11st 12lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Barry Connell

Top-class novice hurdler had an interrupted novice chase season but came good last term, finishing runner-up to Solness in this race before winning the Champion Chase at Cheltenham; he then followed up at Punchestown in style; did well to recover from an error on comeback over C&D last time, just losing out to Solness again; this testing ground is a question, but is the one to beat if handling it.

15/8

1st

4

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 98y

18:00 Punchestown

Marine Nationale

11st 12lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Barry Connell

towards rear but in touch with leaders, smooth headway 3 out, soon niggled along, challenging after 2 out, led going best approaching last, shaken up and went clear run-in, comfortably

5/4

Form: 011324 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
C&D winner is 4-15 over fences; posted one of his best efforts when narrowly denied behind Found A Fifty at Navan (Senecia third); was beaten 25l behind Jonbon on his first try at Grade 1 level in the Tingle Creek at Sandown (15.5f, soft) earlier this month; needs a big career best to trouble the judge in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(5)

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

17:30 Curragh

Solness

10st 5lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Three-time Grade 1-winning chaser makes his Flat debut here at the age of eight; his dam is an unraced half-sister to a German 1m Listed winner; it's hard to know what to expect from him, but he's an intriguing runner and hails from a savvy yard in great form.

11/2

3rd

6

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

14:55 Sandown

Solness

11st 10lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Smart front-runner whose Grade 1 form features three wins at Leopardstown (2m1f) in 2024/2025 and neck second, showing career-best form, at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) on latest start; one of the main contenders back down in distance.

7/2

2nd

7

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

Solness

11st 10lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Tailed off at Leopardstown in February when the soft ground was against him and a visor replaced his usual cheekpieces, which return today; prior to that he posted a third Grade 1 win at Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding) in December; there's a question mark regarding the step back up in trip for this front-runner but his trainer won this twice in a row with Fakir d'Oudairies in 2021 and 2022, and this 8yo arrives fresh after just two starts this winter; chance.

9/1

Form: -P014P D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Talented performer on his day is 5-14 over fences, including wins in Grade 2 and Grade 3 company; ran a cracker when 2.25l second in Grade 1 novice chase at this meeting in 2022; pulled up in Listed handicap chase at Fairyhouse last month and cheekpieces are now reached for; likely up against it.
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: 1223-2 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
5-12 over fences; her latest win came in this race last year; subsequently came up short in Grade 1s here and at Punchestown and in the Grade 2 Mares' chase at Cheltenham; finished 8l behind Energumene in the Hilly Way at Cork and now sports a tongue strap for the first time; she has place claims if she is at her best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 55y

16:50 Punchestown

Dinoblue

11st 3lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

High-class mare has won eleven of her 20 starts over fences, including this race last year; as good as ever this season and won the Mares' Chase at Cheltenham on latest (Only By Night runner-up, Spindleberry fourth); top-rated here and best treated by race conditions; the one to beat.

8/11

1st

2

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Dinoblue

11st 5lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

Runner-up in this race in 2024 (soft) and went one better last year (good to soft); made mistakes when beaten on return to action at Navan in November and has since posted easy wins at Fairyhouse (Grade 3) and Naas (Listed) when heavily odds-on each time; she's the one to beat.

2/1

1st

2

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

16:00 Naas

Dinoblue

11st 5lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

High-class mare is 9-18 chasing, including this race last year and Grade 2 Liberthine Mares' Chase at Cheltenham; beaten favourite on seasonal return in Fortria at Navan in November but back on track in landing long odds with ease in 3-runner Grade 3 at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day, her first attempt at 2m6f; versatile mare, back in trip and remains very much the one to beat.

1/4

Non-runners

Senecia

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Gaelic Warrior

POSTDATA:

Dinoblue

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Gaelic Warrior

TOPSPEED:

Gaelic Warrior

The Irish Sun:

Gaelic Warrior