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By Dylan Jenear ValueChecker

Leopardstown – Paddy Power Chase Preview
28/12/10

The most competitive race on day two of Leopardstown’s Christmas meetings is the Paddy Power Chase, and this year’s renewal of the valuable handicap has the makings of a cracking contest.

Currently vying for favouritism is Becauseicouldntsee, and the seven-year-old is worthy of his position towards the head of the market given that he’s off a mark 1lb lower compared to when runner-up in the four-miler for amateur riders at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He should be spot-on for this following a spin over hurdles at Thurles last month.

Glenquest confirmed the impression that he’s feasibly treated when finding only Jack the Bus too strong in the similarly competitive Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan in November. He’s been nudged up 6lb for that effort, but he was nicely clear of the remainder in that contest and a reproduction of that display will see him go very well indeed.

However, for punters the advice is to side with another that appears to be on a potentially favourable mark at present in Pomme Tiepy. Admittedly, it’s been over two years since Willie Mullins’ charge last got her head in front, but she really caught the eye in the Troytown, keeping on from well back without being overly knocked about, finishing 22 lengths fifth to Jack The Bus.

The seven-year-old was conceding race-fitness to the lion’s share of her rivals on that occasion, including Glenquest, and she will relish the testing conditions. That eye-catching display did not go unnoticed – she’s 11-1 with bet365 for this three-mile event, but that could still look like decent value shortly after 2.30pm on Wednesday.

Streets Of Gold, who runs in the colours of JP McManus, is bound to be popular, having seen off Operation Houdini and 11 other rivals at Cork in October. The son of Sadler’s Wells has been upped 7lb for that, but he has run well off similar marks to this over hurdles, so he has to be taken very seriously.

The unbeaten Beautiful Sound, who did extremely well to come out on top on his return from a lengthy absence at Punchestown last month. This will provide Gordon Elliott’s charge with a much sterner test, but he’s an intriguing contender, while it will be interesting to see how Across The Bay fares in first-time blinkers. He ran no sort of a race in the Troytown, but he’s capable of much better, and his trainer, Noel Meade, is on a high following Pandorama’s victory in the Lexus Chase on Tuesday.

Recommendation: Pomme Tiepy