Monalee to go straight to Cheltenham Gold Cup after Savills Chase second

Monalee will bypass the Irish Gold Cup and go straight to the festival for the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup after Saturday's excellent Savills Chase second, according to Henry de Bromhead.

The Grade 1-winning nine-year-old was just touched off by Delta Work in a thrilling finish at Leopardstown, with the in-form trainer believing a light campaign in early 2020 can benefit his high-class chaser come March.

"He seems fine after his run in the Savills Chase," said De Bromhead following Monalee's gallant second under Rachael Blackmore, who rode without the aid of her irons in the closing stages.

"We were delighted with him, it was great to see him back to form and seeing out the three miles so well.

"He won't be coming back to Leopardstown for the Irish Gold Cup, he'll be going straight to Cheltenham for the Gold Cup."

Delta Work (white cap): came out on top in a thrilling Savills ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann

He added of the Barry Maloney-owned performer, now rated 168: "He loves running fresh and I can't see why we would change that plan we've decided on."

Monalee is priced between 16-1 and 33-1 for the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup.

De Bromhead enjoyed a Christmas period to remember sending out seven winners – two at Grade 1 level, including impressive Racing Post Novice Chase winner Notebook.

The new Racing Post Arkle favourite (priced between 4-1 and 6-1) could face a rematch with runner-up Fakir D'Oudairies in the Arkle Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival, although Joseph O'Brien is cautious his horse may need softer ground than could be on offer at Leopardstown in February.

O'Brien said: "I was a little disappointed Fakir didn't win but he didn't lose anything in defeat really. I don't know where he'll go next but he's won over two and a half miles before and is versatile.

Notebook: jumped tremendously on his way to winning the Racing Post Novice ChaseCredit: Caroline Norris

"I'd have no problem taking on the winner again or going up in trip either. You could look at the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown but you'd have to have a little worry about the ground – he likes a bit of juice underfoot."

A drying surface meant that De Bromhead's Albert Bartlett hero Minella Indo was withdrawn from the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase, but the Waterford trainer is now eyeing a three-mile beginners' chase later this month for the promising seven-year-old.

He explained: "There's a beginners' chase on January 18 at Navan for Minella Indo and I'd say we'll aim for that.

Minella Indo: second to the talented Laurina on his chase debutCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

"We were looking forward to running him at Leopardstown but we have to do right by him. I think Navan could be a nice test for his jumping and stamina."

Joseph O'Brien also enjoyed a fine Christmas by sending out nine winners – four of which came in bumpers – and said of his festive team: "All the horses who ran over Christmas seem good since.

"We'll get the next week or ten days out of the way and make plans for them then. We had plenty of winners and placed horses, everything ran pretty much as expected."

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