CHACUN TO STAR

Festive racegoers to see chaser full of promise

CHACUN Pour Soi, unbeaten in his two outings in Ireland, should prove the star in Leopardstown today as he bids for a second Grade 1 victory in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase.

The seven-year-old, off the track for three years until having his first start for Willie Mullins at Naas last March, looks a potential star and I’m expecting a big performance form him today.

Setbacks and lack of suitably soft ground have delayed the selection’s Irish debut.

But, having schooled well around Leopardstown early in March, he produced an awesome, front-running display in a beginners chase at Naas in the days after Cheltenham, jumping superbly en route to a 31 lengths win over Portmore Lough.

With time running out before season’s end, Willie Mullins sent Chacun Pour Soi straight into Grade 1 company, in the Ryanair Novice Chase at the Punchestown

Festival.

And he proved his star quality in beating Cheltenham Festival winner Defi Du Seuil and

Duc Des Genievres in good style, under Robbie Power.

Today, Chacun Pour Soi starts on a road which will, probably, lead him to a tilt at the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

Mullins (inset) also runs the talented but enigmatic Great Field and Cadmium. But the chief threat to the odds-on favourite should be the Nicky Richards-trained Simply Ned, bidding for a historic hat-trick in this event and a solid third behind Defi Du Seuil and Politologue on his seasonal bow at Cheltenham last March.

The other Grade 1 prize on offer, for the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, has attracted just five runners. But we’re set for fascinating clash between the Mullins-trained Blue Sari and Gordon Elliott’s Abacadabras.

A close second to Envoi Allen in the Cheltenham Bumper last March, Blue Sari was reportedly well short of peak fitness when scoring on his hurdling debut at

Punchestown last month. So plenty of improvement is expected.

And, although the Mullins runner holds Abacadabras on Cheltenham form, I’m siding with Elliott’s charge today, on the basis of his experience and hurdle form.

Elliott’s charge won his maiden comfortably at Gowran Park before possessing too many gears for subsequent Grade 2 scorer Latest Exhibition in the For Auction at Navan.

Abacadabras will be suited by this return to two miles and he should have the edge over Blue Sari.

Cheltenham Festival scorer City Island makes his chasing debut in the beginners but he might struggle to cope with dual the classy Melon.

REAL POTENTIAL Chacun Pour Soi is lightly raced but his impressive form promises so much