FOOT’S A SHOO-IN
FOOTPAD is one of the most exciting novice chasers seen in recent seasons, and is strongly fancied to remain unbeaten over the larger obstacles.
He was no star over timber – Willie Mullins’ ace finished behind Petit Mouchoir three times, including when the pair came third and fourth in last season’s Champion Hurdle – but he has gone to the top level in his new discipline.
An 11-length scorer at Navan in November on his chase debut, the six-yearold landed a Grade 1 at Leopardstown by the same margin over Christmas, helped by his rapid speed over fences.
And his five-length defeat of Petit Mouchoir when the pair met in the Arkle Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival in February marked him as the stand-out twomile rookie.
Petit Mouchoir, who had a troubled build-up to Leopardstown last time, may narrow the gap but will struggle to erase it altogether, while Saint Calvados is a young chaser of great promise and will relish the prevailing underfoot conditions.
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