2m5½f Gaelic Plant Hire Leopardstown Handicap Chase (Grade A)
Fresh from an 11/1 winner in the Ladbrokes Hurdle on Saturday, I fancy two more in the Handicap Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.
We tipped FARCLAS in the Paddy Power Chase over Christmas when running a blinder behind Castlebawn West and we are following him again here. The yard decided to sidestep the Thyestes for this which could be significant and Farclas has only risen 1lb to a mark of 143 since his opening chase start of the season finishing fifth behind subsequent winners Daly Tiger, Castlebawn West (again) and Tornado Flyer with Bapaume back in sixth.
This is just the third start of the campaign for the former Triumph Hurdle winner and he has a very unexposed chasing profile still and can go on to win a big handicap off this sort of mark. Minella Times finished ahead of Farclas in the Paddy Power Chase and is now 3lbs worse-off at the weights here, he remains of interest. Both Crossed My Mind and The Long Mile also look dangerous for JP McManus who has already had a good weekend in the handicaps.
But I am big fan of TREACYSENNISCORTHY who improved massively off a mark of 125 last time to claim a chase handicap at Cork with the second having boosted the form since. He comes into this 12lbs higher, but remains 2lbs lower than his hurdles mark having just his seventh chase start. This will be his first start over larger obstacles at Leopardstown where he remains unbeaten at the track boasting two big wins against The Jam Man and Ronald Pump over three miles in big-field handicap hurdles last season.
The trip of 2m 6f should be fine for Treacysenniscorthy and he can sometimes be dominant when he gets off into a rhythm in front. He also won at this meeting last season so he has a lot going for him.
It is a competitive race and both of our selections are probably fair prices at 7/1, but I will have each of them for the win.
1pt win Farclas @7/1, 16:10 Leopardstown, Sunday
1pt win Treacysenniscorthy @7/1, 16:10 Leopardstown, Sunday