2.30 Leopardstown: five-hand Willie holds all the trump cards but has Townend chosen the right one?

The Jonbon camp should know their biggest danger after this race as Willie Mullins' Arkle team goes on trial in the Irish equivalent, and it promises to be one of the most entertaining and informative events of the weekend.

Paul Townend has never hidden his admiration for Appreciate It and he has stayed loyal to the runaway winner of the 2021 Supreme, despite having hailed stable rival Dysart Dynamo "a freak".

The fact of the matter is Appreciate It was officially a 10lb better hurdler than Dysart Dynamo and El Fabiolo, and he has looked a natural over fences in his two outings at Punchestown and Naas.

He didn't have much to beat in either of those races, his SPs of 1-5 and 1-9 tell you that, but he was measured at his fences and seemed to know what the whole thing was about. He always had the size and scope to be a better chaser than hurdler and this will tell us whether he is or not.

The last horse to complete the Leopardstown-Cheltenham Arkle double was Footpad in 2018, while Douvan did it in 2016 and so did Un De Sceaux in 2015.

There is sure to be a scorching early gallop, there always is when Dysart Dynamo is involved. Nothing could lie up with him, or nothing wanted to, when he won his beginners' chase over this course and distance at the Christmas meeting. You could argue his jumping display was as good as any novice this season.

There is just a nagging doubt he needs to be alone up front to be at his best. He didn't like close company in the Supreme or back on home soil at Punchestown last spring, so it will be interesting to see how he copes if harassed in front during the first half of the race.

El Fabiolo hasn't done much wrong in his career. Some say he was unlucky when beaten a neck by Jonbon in the Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree last season and, displaying a few guessy leaps, he still won by 19 lengths on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse before Christmas. He's very smart.

Banbridge has already made a giant leap from hurdles to fences. He is already a 7lb superior animal over larger obstacles and his six-length win over Tommy's Oscar in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in November reads very well. Ground was probably to blame for his below-par effort in the Drinmore.

Saint Roi swooped to conquer in the Grade 1 here at Christmas but this is a much hotter contest and it wouldn't surprise me were Fil Dor to reverse that form. He made a desperate mistake three out, which seemed to knock the stuffing out of him.

Appreciate It was the best of these over hurdles by a considerable margin and it might just prove to be the case over fences too.

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Appreciate It, Dysart Dynamo, El Fabiolo, Flame Bearer and Saint Roi
Paul rides Appreciate It as expected. He jumps and gallops. He does everything right and hopefully he can do everything right here too. Dysart Dynamo was very impressive on his chasing debut and I think fences have made him concentrate more on his jumping. Over hurdles he was inclined to over race and maybe had no respect for his obstacles. This track obviously suits him and he’ll make sure it’s a truly run race. He could improve a lot from the last day, which puts him in here with a shout. El Fabiolo is another who likes to get on with things. We’re very happy with him and he’ll like the fast pace. He’s a slick jumper and there’s every chance he will improve again. He could give Appreciate It most to do. Flame Bearer's hurdles form wouldn’t be good enough to compete with the top ones in this, but he seems to have improved for a fence. This will be a very informative race and will tell us where to go with him. Saint Roi will appreciate a really hot pace and will be trying to come off it late. He will take advantage if the ones in front get their sectionals wrong.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Banbridge
It's a very strong race but he's in good form at home and I'm hoping he can still run very well in it.

Peter Fahey, trainer of Visionarian
I would say it's probably one of the best novice chases that has ever been run at Leopardstown. It's some race. Our lad ran really well in the Grade 1 at Christmas and he deserves to take his chance in it. I could see him running really well too.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Fil Dor
He jumped brilliantly at Navan on his chasing debut but made a mess of the third-last when favourite for the Grade 1 here at Christmas. He would have got much closer to the winner but for that. He's still a young horse and, although it's a very hot race, I'd like to think there is more improvement to come from him.

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