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Racing News |
Lochan Lacha Favourite for Paddy Power Chase With Sponsor
01/12/09
Paddy Power has installed Lochan Lacha (10st 1lb) as the 9-1 favourite for the feature 190,000 Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday, December 27, although trainer Tony Martin has warned punters to see how the progressive eight-year-old fares on his imminent next outing and also stated that he may not even be his number one for the three-mile event.
The Taipan gelding finished seventh behind subsequent Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Tranquil Sea on his seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Poplar Square Chase at Naas last month, but that contest was probably a little too sharp side for him over two miles with all of his winning having come over at least two and a half miles. He has an entry in Wednesday’s Joe Savage Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
The Co Meath handler said: I’ve entered Lochan Lacha, Hold The Pin and Newbay Prop in the Paddy Power Chase and I’ll wait and see what they’re like, but it’s one valuable pot at Christmas and I won’t make my mind up until nearer the time.
Lochan Lacha is ready to run somewhere, probably in a hurdle, and we’ll see what’s in the race at Fairyhouse as there are other races, including Punchestown next weekend, too.
Two miles was probably a bit short for him at Naas and it was a good-class conditions race which was probably a bit hot for him.
Lochan Lacha won a novice handicap chase over an extended two miles six furlongs at Fairyhouse in April on good ground, but has also prevailed on heavy ground.
Martin continued: The ground wouldn’t matter and I don’t know if three miles will be the best distance for him we’ll first get a run into him and we’ll see what happens after we get him out.
Hold The Pin ran well to be third in the Troytown Handicap Chase and he’ll probably go for the Paddy Power and I think that he’s probably my number one at the moment, while Newbay Prop won it two years’ ago so we’ll just see how Lochan Lacha gets on.
Hold The Pin (9st 13lb) and Newbay Prop (10st 6lb) are both 20-1 chances with the galaxy’s friendliest bookie for the Paddy Power Chase, while Pomme Tiepy (10st 12lb), trained by Willie Mullins, and Paul Nicholls’s potential English raider Nycteos (also 10st 12lb) share 10-1 joint second favouritism with the sponsor. Additional English interest is provided by the inclusion of the Nicky Richards-trained Skippers Brig (11st), another 20-1 shot with Power, among the entries.
Paddy Power himself said: The bookies have had the upper hand in the Paddy Power Chase in the last few years, but I still remember the carnage when Keepatem justified 7-2 favouritism in 2004. The ‘jolly’ struck the previous year as well so it’s probably just about a score draw with punters and it will be fascinating to see which horses dominate this season’s opening exchanges.
PADDY POWER CHASE
