Top cross-channel trainer Alan King believes two miles around Leopardstown's left-handed track will be an ideal Christmas Grade One proposition for his smart chaser Uxizandre next week.
The JP McManus-owned horse dropped back to the minimum trip for the first time at Cheltenham last month and impressively won the Shloer Chase. The third that day, Dodging Bullets, has since won Sandown’s Tingle Creek and Uxizandre is already a 5-2 favourite with the sponsors for next Saturday’s €100,000 Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase.
“We were delighted with him at Cheltenham. The issue was dropping back to two miles but it certainly didn’t look to be a hindrance. He loves his jumping. We’re a bit limited with him because he has to go left-handed and there’s nothing in England at the moment for him so that’s why we’re going to Leopardstown,” said King.
Tidal Bay
His colleague
Paul Nicholls
has an enviable Lexus Chase record having won Sunday week’s €150,000 Leopardstown feature three times in the last seven years, including a memorable success with Tidal Bay in 2012.
He will rely on Sam Winner this time and said: "He is on the verge of Gold Cup class on ratings so handicaps look difficult. Obviously it will be a tough race to win but he's improving, is a real stayer and Leopardstown should suit him."
The legendary Kauto Star’s half brother, Kauto Grand Mogul, sidesteps a Christmas festival engagement for Thurles’ novice hurdle and this four-runner event should see the Limerick winner resume winning ways. It certainly looks an easier task than tackling Free Expression & Co in the Grade Two Monksfield last time.
Lyrical Theatre is a rare triple-bumper winner and her opposition in the mares’ maiden hurdle look to be facing something of a mission impossible.
A winner at Sligo in August, Lyrical Theatre has continued to surprise her trainer Willie Mullins with further victories at Naas and Navan. Her sole defeat at Galway came on quick ground which is hardly going to be a factor this time.
Shadow Catcher leaves Ascot’s Ladbroke to his stable companion Bayan and appears instead in a two-mile handicap where he concedes a stone to course winner Mrs McVeale.
