3m Paddy Power Chase (Extended Handicap Chase) (Grade B)
The former 2018 Triumph Hurdle winner, FARCLAS, put in an encouraging reappearance run in a second season handicap chase last month after a 522 day absence. He finished second to Espoir d’Allen over two miles on this course a couple of years’ ago and looked open to improvement over a longer trip based on his last start.
Farclas disappointed as a second-season hurdler, but won three on the bounce over fences to start his chasing career. He could still prove better yet in this sort of testing contest and remains with potential off a mark of 142 having been rated 152 over hurdles. It’s also encouraging that Jack Kennedy sides with him out of Gordon Elliot’s collection of runners.
Lock’s Corner looks hugely progressive and may still be quite a long way ahead of the handicapper. But he has been well-found in the market.
But I want to stay on the right side of CASTLEBAWN WEST for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. He will be racing off top-weight but has an interesting looking profile for this.
As a second-season chaser, Castlebawn West finished fourth in the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase here at Leopardstown and was running a good race before blundering and unseating the rider two-out in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham Festival. We already know that form is rock solid with the way Battleoverdoyen, Minella Indo and Aye Right have performed since.
Castlebawn West opened this campaign with a very good staying-on 3/17 at Punchestown behind Tornado Flyer and Daly Tiger. This was the same Graded Handicap Chase as Farclas who started his campaign and that formline might prove the key to this race.
Castlebawn West is another who likes Leopardstown having picked up success here before. He could have that bit of class and remains unexposed over this sort of distance.
1pt each-way Farclas @11/1, 14:55 Leopardstown, Sunday (1-6 places, 1/5 odds various bookmakers)
1pt each-way Castlebawn West @12/1, 14:55 Leopardstown, Sunday (1-6 places, 1/5 odds various bookmakers)