Elliott Khan get job done at Leopardstown
RUBY WALSH travels to Limerick over Christmas to partner Getabird in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Novice Chase.
Willie Mullins has claimed this prize five times in the last 10 years, with Financial Reward (2008), Sir Des Champs (2011), The Paparrazi Kid (2013), Outlander (2015) and Bellshill (2016) all on the roll of honour.
The two-and-a-half-mile contest has been upgraded to Grade One status this year and Getabird will be favourite to provide the champion trainer with another success today.
The six-year-old disappointed when favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, but made a flying start to his career over fences at Punchestown earlier this month.
Gordon Elliott saddles Hardline — an impressive winner of a Grade Three at Naas on his latest outing — while Jessica Harrington’s Jetz finished third in the Grade One Drinmore Novice Chase last time out.
Majurca (Joseph O’Brien), Beyond The Law (Mouse Morris), Riders Onthe Storm (Tom Taaffe) and Game Of War (Henry de Bromhead) complete the field.
Meanwhile, Nicky Henderson feels that Might Bite, last year’s winner of the 32Red King George VI Chase, will need to produce a ‘personal best’ this time around when he faces nine rivals at Kempton.
Henderson’s charge is the favourite to successfully defend his crown in the St Stephen’s Day showpiece, despite having something to prove after a disappointing reappearance in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.
The nine-year-old renews rivalry with the Nigel Twiston-Daviestrained dual Betfair Chase winner Bristol De Mai, as well as Colin Tizzard’s Native River and 2016 King George hero Thistlecrack.
Paul Nicholls has sent out a record nine previous winners of the King George — including the brilliant five-times victor Kauto Star — and fires a twin assault at this year’s renewal with Politologue and Clan Des Obeaux both in the mix.
Henderson said of Might Bite: ‘He looks fantastic, but this is a mighty race and so much better than last year and I think it’s fair to say he has to produce a personal best, but I couldn’t be happier with him and he’s there to give it his best shot.’