'A Plus Tard was great at Haydock and did everything very professionally'

Tuesday: 2.20 Leopardstown
Savills Chase (Grade 1) | 3m | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTE/RTV

Henry de Bromhead expects A Plus Tard to face a much tougher assignment than the one he had at Haydock in November when he blew his Betfair Chase rivals away.

A Plus Tard looked better than ever when cantering away from the field in the Betfair Chase and, after putting 22 lengths between himself and Royal Pagaille at the line, he was immediately promoted to favourite for the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

He was 100-30 second favourite for last season's Gold Cup and found only stablemate Minella Indo too strong, but he has looked the best staying chaser in training so far this season. The layers agree and he is as short as 7-4 with some firms to go one better in March.

De Bromhead said: "A Plus Tard seems to be in good form and well in himself. He was great at Haydock and did everything very professionally, but this looks a tougher race and he will have to step up again. Everything has gone well since Haydock."

It was in this race 12 months ago that A Plus Tard announced himself as a staying chaser, taking the step up to three miles in his stride as he pounced late to collar Kemboy and Melon.

He defied a high of 149-1 in running there and it earned Darragh O'Keeffe the 2021 Ride of the Year award at the Horse Racing Ireland awards earlier this month.

Rachael Blackmore will be in the saddle this time and she is chasing a fifth success on the seven-year-old.

'Galvin has answered every single question'

Galvin has won six of his last seven starts and the prolific seven-year-old took the step into Grade 1 company in his stride in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal, going down by three-quarters of a length to the seasoned Frodon after a thrilling tussle up the home straight.

The chase course was officially described as good to yielding on Monday and, although Henry de Bromhead and Willie Mullins will be hoping for rain for their representatives, Elliott is certainly not worried about it drying out for Galvin.

Elliott said: "Galvin won't mind the ground drying out at all. He has kept answering every question we've asked of him and he stepped up again at Down Royal when just touched off by Frodon. Whether he is up to this or not, who knows? But he is more than entitled to take his chance."

Delta Work won this as a six-year-old in 2019 and followed up a few months later in the Irish Gold Cup, but has not won since.

He may have beaten only one at Down Royal but there were encouraging signs there and Elliott expects him to come on plenty for the blowout.

He said: "Delta Work loves Leopardstown and always come on from his first run of the season. Jack [Kennedy] gets on great with him and knows him inside out. He should run well."

There are quotes as big as 50-1 being offered about Samcro, something we never thought would happen to the dual Cheltenham Festival winner, but he has been a pale shadow of his former self and looks to have plenty on his plate.

Elliott said: "We're trying something different with Samcro by going back over three miles. He had his fair share of problems but we all know the ability is there."

Kemboy and Melon back for more for Mullins

Kemboy and Melon looked to have this race to themselves 12 months ago as they traded punches from halfway down the back straight, but both were on the ropes after the last and A Plus Tard delivered the knockout blow in the final round.

The pair are back again as Kemboy tries to regain the crown he won so impressively in 2018, while Melon continues his search for that elusive first Grade 1 victory with Patrick Mullins back in the saddle.

Mullins said: "Both Kemboy and Melon ran crackers in this race last year. I think this track and the way the ground is will suit them. Both have had the benefit of a run in the John Durkan and that form has already been franked this week."

Bryony Frost has been booked for Franco De Port once again, the pair finished seventh in the John Durkan, while perhaps Willie Mullins' best chance of registering a third win in the race is with Janidil.

Last season's winner of the Underwriting Exchange Gold Cup Novice Chase at Fairyhouse's Easter festival is trying three miles for only the second time and is improving after chasing home Allaho in the John Durkan at Punchestown.

Mullins said: "Janidil ran a cracker in the John Durkan, finishing second to Allaho. He has only run over three miles once in his life and that was in the Albert Bartlett, when he was too immature over that distance. I'm hoping that at his age now he might be a surprise package over the trip.

"Franco De Port won the Racing Post Novice Chase over 2m1f at this meeting last year. I campaigned him as a two-miler and possibly wrongly so. I think going out to three miles could show a lot of improvement in him and he could be a dark horse."

Read more Tuesday previews

1.10 Leopardstown: Aidan Coleman bids for first Irish winner on class act Gentlemansgame

1.45 Leopardstown: Gordon Elliott hoping for magic from Abacadabras as he steps up to staying grade

2.00 Catterick: 'He's up in trip but should be suited by it' - Findthetime bids for follow-up

2.20 Leopardstown analysis: Red-hot Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite A Plus Tard should get the job done (Members' Club)

New customers can get £50 in free bets. First single & e/w bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 5 x £10 bet token. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets for horseracing only. Free bets are non-withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply. 18+. begambleaware.org. Claim the offer here.