The first of two Grade 1’s on Friday’s Leopardstown card, the Neville Hotels Novice Chase has been won by some big names over the years, including Delta Work (2018), Monkfish (2020) and Gaillard Du Mesnil (2022).
Six runners line up for this year’s renewal, with Emmet Mullins’ Corbetts Cross heading the betting, ahead of the likes of Flooring Porter and Favori De Champdou.
GG editor Tom Aldridge runs through all six runners, before giving his expert verdict on who he’s backing to come out on top.
Last year’s renewal saw Willie Mullins land the race for a fourth time as GAILLARD DU MESNIL justified his short price to win comfortably, with Churchstone Warrior (2nd) and Frontal Assault (3rd) well behind:
Key Race Trends
- 8 of the last 10 winners were aged 6-7.
- 8 of the last 10 winners were trained by either Gordon Elliott (5) or Willie Mullins (3).
- 7 of the last 10 winners had won last time out.
- 6 of the last 10 winners were sent off as favourite.
Runner-By-Runner Guide
CORBETTS CROSS
(Emmet Mullins/Mark Walsh)
Corbetts Cross was slightly disappointing on chase debut when finishing over 9 lengths behind Grangeclare West over a trip shorter than ideal, but he put in a much improved performance last time out to get the better of Three Card Brag, and he deserves his place at the head of the betting for this. The step up in trip here will be a big positive to his chances and it would be a bit of a shock if he wasn’t challenging in the final stages. He does have to improve further here, but he’s only a 6YO and it’s worth noting 6YO’s have won six of the last eight renewals. He has a big chance, but I do think he could be worth taking on at the prices.
FLOORING PORTER
(Gavin Cromwell/Keith Donoghue)
There is no doubt that Flooring Porter will be more at home at Leopardstown than he was at Punchestown, having jumped out to his left on multiple occasions last time out. Gavin Cromwell’s star had previously made the perfect start over fences, when winning cosily at Cheltenham, and the form of that race has been franked with the runner-up Broadway Bay winning his next two races. There’s no denying he’s in with a big chance here now back on a left-handed course, but he does have over 15 lengths to find with Favori De Champdou and I have a feeling he might be chasing that rival home again.
FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU
(Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy)
Gordon Elliott’s 8YO improved dramatically for his debut effort over fences when bolting up to win the Florida Pearl Novice Chase last time out and he looks one of the key players in this race. He was hardly disappointing on debut, but he got it all right next time out and ran out an easy winner at Punchestown, finishing 14 lengths clear of runner-up Sandor Clegane. Flooring Porter was a further length behind in third and although that one will be more suited to the left-handed Leopardstown course, I’m struggling to see how he can reverse that form here. Gordon Elliott has a superb record in this race, having won five of the last eight renewals, and I think his runner here has a big chance of giving him another winner.
GRANGECLARE WEST
(Willie Mullins/Paul Townend)
Willie Mullins has won two of the last three renewals and is Grangeclare West is his sole representive this year, so has to be taken seriously. He found Grade 1 company too hot over hurdles but better things are expected of him over fences, and he duly obliged on his debut over the larger obstacles, when running out a comfortable winner at Naas last month. The form of that race was franked when the third-placed Corbetts Cross won next time out and that one is a short priced favourite to win the Matheson Hurdle on the same card as this race. The step up in trip is a bit of an unknown, but I’ve no doubt Willie Mullins is a better judge than me and he must fancy his chances of being able to handle this trip, so I certainly wouldn’t rule him out of running a big race.
FLANKING MANEUVER
(Noel Meade/Michael O’Sullivan)
Noel Meade’s 8YO has some interesting form over fences and made a winning start to the season with an easy 5 length victory at Fairyhouse back in October. Prior to that, he raced twice over fences, finishing third in both races – behind Churchstone Warrior and Mahler Mission on debut, before a well beaten third behind Journey With Me at Naas. He has clearly improved over the summer and although the form of that win hasn’t worked out too well, he remains open to improvement and could outrun his odds. However, he is taking on some talented rivals here and it would be a bit of a shock if he was capable of finishing in the top two.
TULLYHOGUE FORT
(John F O’Neill/P J O’Neill)
The rank outsider for the race, and rightly so. Form doesn’t read well in the context of this race, with him failing to win any of his last seven races. He’s also 10lbs above his last winning mark over fences and was well beaten on his sole previous visit to the course back two years ago. There doesn’t appear to be much to say positive about his chances, and his odds suggest that he doesn’t have much chance too.
Big-Race Verdict
Corbetts Cross will surely keep improving over fences with each run, but the same can be said for FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU and I’m confident Gordon Elliott’s runner will get the better of him here. The top trainer has a superb record in the race and his runner couldn’t have been more impressive when winning last time out, with Flooring Porter 15 lengths behind. Corbetts Cross looks the best option to chase the selection home, whilst Flooring Porter should be much more at home going left-handed so should be able to finish third. I also wouldn’t rule out a big run from Grangeclare West, who comfortably beat Corbetts Cross on chase debut, and he would certainly be the E/W angle in the race for me, although with only six runners I could only recommend a win bet, and that would have to be on Favori De Champdou.
- Favori De Champdou (4/1 Paddy Power & Betfair, 7/2 generally)
- Corbetts Cross (7/4 generally)
- Flooring Porter (11/4 generally)
*Odds Correct At Time Of Writing – 10.17am Thursday 28th December*
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