Can Monalee justify place at the summit of the RSA Chase betting?

Neville Hotels Novice Chase | 3m | Grade 1 (4yo+) | ATR/RTE2

Monalee did everything we thought he might on his chasing debut at Punchestown and this will tell us whether he deserves his position at the summit of the RSA Chase market.

When you hail from the Henry de Bromhead stable more often than not chasing will be your game, and Monalee lived up to that mantra with a smooth six-length success over Any Second Now at Punchestown. That form has been franked since and, given that he was talented enough to fill the runner-up spot in the Albert Bartlett last season, few could argue with his current price of 6-1 for the RSA.

"Monalee seems in great form and I'm very happy with him. He was a very good hurdler last season and I was delighted with the way he won at Punchestown. I'm looking forward to the race," said De Bromhead

Could the girls beat the boys?

Gordon Elliott is never afraid of pitching mares in against geldings. It worked a treat with Apple's Jade on Thursday and he has decided to send Shattered Love and Dinaria Des Obeaux into battle against the boys here.

Shattered Love has made a smooth transition to chasing and has won three of her four starts over fences, the sole reversal coming against the boys when Jury Duty got the better of her in a Grade 2 at Punchestown last month.

"Shattered Love has taken well to fences and seems in good form so we're letting her take her chance. Dinaria Des Obeaux gets all the allowances as a four-year-old filly so why not have a go? I think it's worth a shot," Elliott said of his two females.

Perhaps Elliott's best chance of scooping the pot is with the aforementioned Jury Duty.

"I was thrilled with Jury Duty at Punchestown. He jumped great there and this was the logical next step for him. He would have to have a squeak but it looks to be a very competitive race," the trainer added.

Another glorious day for Meade?

No matter what happens on the final day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival Noel Meade will still be smiling into the new year after Road To Respect announced himself as a genuine Gold Cup contender, but could it be two Grade 1s in two days courtesy of Moulin A Vent?

It has taken Moulin A Vent a while to get the hang of chasing but he was pretty flawless at Fairyhouse when winning by 18 lengths and is thrown into a Grade 1 by Meade just 13 days on from that.

Meade said: "I know this comes up quickly after Fairyhouse but that race actually took very, very little out of him. He won easily and really enjoyed himself. We're keen to give him more experience and that is why he shows up here. I know it's a big ask but he deserves his place in the line-up and hopefully he'll run well."

Will Willie's luck change?

Willie Mullins cannot have had too many worse days than Thursday as he lost Nichols Canyon and neither Yorkhill nor Djakadam featured at the business end of the Leopardstown Christmas Chase. Surely his luck has to change?

Mullins relies on Rathvinden and Bon Papa in his attempt to win this Grade 1 for a third time in five years following the victories of Back In Focus in 2012 and Don Poli in 2014.

Rathvinden has been busy this season and this will be his eighth start of the season, winning four.

Bon Papa, in contrast, is one from one over fences and it was hard to pick holes in his chasing debut at Punchestown, winning by 11 lengths.

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