Pour Soi to answer poor show
CHACUN POUR SOI bids to “put things right from last year” as he takes on five rivals for the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase (1.10) at Leopardstown today.
Twelve months ago, the Willie Mullins eightyear-old suffered his only defeat over fences at 8-15 in the Grade 1 two-miler.
But Ireland’s champion trainer is confident a 1-5 comeback victory in Cork’s Hilly Way Chase three weeks ago will have brought Paul Townend’s mount to peak fitness.
Mullins said: “He’s had a run this year and he’s a lot straighter than when he got beaten by A Plus Tard.
“He loves Leopardstown – hopefully he’ll improve and put things right from last year.”
A final-fence fall by stablemate Cash Back left Chacun Pour Soi to come home 19 lengths clear on his return.
But Mullins admitted: “I was sort of disappointed with him there.
“I thought he could have won better, but he needs his first run, obviously, and I think that should put him right.”
Mullins, whose 2019 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero Klassical Dream makes his fencing debut in the Paddy Power Games “Don’t Think You’re Special” Beginners’ Chase (12.35), saddles Appreciate It for the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (1.45).
Runner-up to stablecompanion Ferny Hollow in Cheltenham’s Weatherbys Champion Bumper in March, Appreciate It beat Master McShee by two and a half lengths at Cork last month.
GORDON ELLIOTT will miss today’s Christmas fixture after testing positive for Covid-19.
Revealing that he is in self-isolation, Elliott said: “It’s come as a surprise as I’ve been asymptomatic.
“We have had all the staff here at Cullentra tested, and thankfully all have come back negative.”