2m5f Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+)
A cracking renewal, which looks on paper to be between Mighty Potter, Gaillard Du Mesnil, and JAMES DU BERLAIS. Mighty Potter was an impressive winner of the Drinmore and is a chaser on the up. He raced in all the top two-mile novice hurdles last season, but has really shown another level jumping fences this season and is a very worth favourite.
However, Might Potter’s jumping was a little bit scruffy in the Drinmore and I like the unknown quantity that is James Du Berlais.
Having arrived from France in late 2020, his first assignment for the Willie Mullins yard was to go take on Honeysuckle in the 2021 Champion Hurdle. That proved to be an overly ambitious task, but he quickly demonstrated his class when stepping up to three miles to finish a distant second to Klassical Dream in the Grade 1 Irish Champion Stayers shortly thereafter.
James Du Berlais was off almost two years having had a little injury last season, so the yard have been patient, and he routed the field in his beginners chase at Fairyhouse over this trip.
He put in a very exciting performance taking to the larger obstacles extremely well. James Du Berlais is another for the all conquering Isaac Suede and Simon Munir ownership who are on fire right now. This chase has huge potential and could possibly be right at the top of the Willie’s staying novices this season.
1pt win James Du Berlais @3/1, 13:40 Leopardstown, Sunday
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