Leap Dearg a big player over fences

Leap Dearg is usually a superb jumper but he put in a dismal round on his debut for this stable in August comes into this an underachiever over fences and without a win since completing a hat-trick in January last year off a mark 9lb lower than today's.

The eight-year-old has shown bits and pieces of promise in seven outings since and it is encouraging that one his best efforts came over course and distance last November, when beaten a length and three-quarters in second by Pairofbrowneyes.

A close third behind Rogue Trader at Naas in February was another sign this mark might not be beyond him and he is worth another chance after a flat run over hurdles last time. That was his first outing over the smaller obstacles and he didn't look at home.