2m1f Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 1)
A competitive-looking renewal of the Racing Post Novice Chase over at Leopardstown.
Won last year by Notebook, Gigginstown are looking for another success in this race with the 2019 Supreme Novice hurdle fifth Felix Desjy currently a warm favourite.
He has looked a strong animal over fences and is 2/2 going into this contest. But the novice two-mile chase division needs another significant challenger to take on Shishkin come March and this race has often provided some pointers towards it.
Darver Star represents last season’s Champion Hurdle form and he disappointed on his second start over fences when getting beaten by Felix Desjy. The return to this track and better ground should suit him better and there is a possibility he could reverse the form.
The conditions also looks set to favour another potential improver over fences in BLACKBOW. The Willie Mullins chaser won a Grade 1 Bumper over this track and is in fact a dual course winner.
Blackbow went off near favourite for the 2018 Champion Bumper finishing fifth and was expected to do great things as hurdler. It didn’t happen and he remains a maiden. However, Blackbow made no mistakes over fences on his debut beating a decent yardstick in Entoucas.
Blackbow could be anything over fences and is worth taking a chance against the short-priced favourite that he improves beyond him.
1pt win Blackbow @3/1, 14:15 Leopardstown, Saturday
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