Paddy Power Chase
(Extended Handicap Chase)
Leopardstown 14:55
Grade B, €200,000
3m 100y, 5yo+  
Friday 27th December 2019

1 Roaring Bull 16/1
2 Fitzhenry 6/1F
3 Plan Of Attack 16/1
4 Poker Party 9/1
27 ran NR: Blazer Distances: ½l, 1¾l, 2½l Time: 6m 24.50s

After plenty of thrills and spills on the way around, it was still a wide-open contest racing to the final fence. 

Plan Of Attack led over it, but was collared by last year’s third Fitzhenry 100 yards from the line. 

That one looked set for a big payday but, having been only sixth jumping the last, the Gigginstown-owned Roaring Bull finished fastest to score by half a length. 

Plan of Attack was third another length and three quarters away, with his stablemate Poker Party in fourth.

The winner won his beginners’ chase on New Year’s Day at Fairyhouse, and also scored at Naas in February before running a fair sixth in the Irish Grand National. Here, on his third start of the season, he improved markedly from his previous start at Navan, where he had finished a long way behind Fitzhenry in the Troytown Chase.

Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said “I feel sorry for Paul Nolan (trainer of Fitzhenry) who is a very good friend of mine. I was watching the race out on the track with Paul and I was cheering his horse on because I thought I was gone. 

“Next thing with about 50 yards to go I saw my lad flying and I sort of bit my tongue and said nothing. It’s great for everyone in the yard but I’m a bit gutted for Paul.” 

Winning rider Jack Kennedy said “When the tape went back I wasn’t in the position I wanted to be in but he travelled lovely throughout the race and I got a lovely run around. 

“He didn’t pick up the way I wanted to after the second last but it worked out well as I didn’t want to be in front too long. He dug deep and did it well.” 

Eddie O’Leary, representing Gigginstown House Stud, remarked “Jack let him creep away and gave him a fantastic ride.”

The Paddy Power Steeplechase
Grade B, €200,000, 3m100y, 5yo+
27 ran
Going: Soft, Yielding in places

POS DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1      Roaring Bull 6 10-9 Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy 16/1
2 ½ Fitzhenry 7 10-11 Paul Nolan Barry Geraghty 6/1F
3 ½ Plan Of Attack 6 10-9 Henry De Bromhead Phillip Enright 16/1
4 2½ Poker Party 7 11-6 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 9/1
5 1¾ Chef Des Obeaux 7 11-9 2 W P Mullins M P Fogarty 25/1
6 8 Robin Des Foret 9 11-6 W P Mullins Mr Derek O'Connor 14/1
7 2¾ Solomn Grundy 9 10-8 Henry De Bromhead Hugh Morgan 16/1
8 1½ Cap York 7 10-8 Noel Meade Donagh Meyler 16/1
9 ¾ Quamino 6 10-11 Paul Nolan B J Cooper 25/1
10 3½ Gun Digger 7 10-7 Gordon Elliott Kevin Brogan 50/1
11 2¼ Winter Escape 8 11-8 Aidan Anthony Howard Simon Torrens 20/1
12 27 Freewheelin Dylan 7 10-10 Dermot A McLoughlin Conor Maxwell 25/1
13 4¾ Livelovelaugh 9 11-4 W P Mullins Brian Hayes 25/1
14 3¾ Listen Dear 9 11-1 W P Mullins Denis O'Regan 50/1
15 65 Monbeg Notorious 8 11-6 Gordon Elliott Keith Donoghue 50/1
F Class Conti 7 11-7 W P Mullins Sean McDermott 50/1
F No Comment 8 10-10 Philip Hobbs Darragh O'Keeffe 15/2
F Cabaret Queen 7 11-2 W P Mullins Paul Townend 14/1
PU Killer Miller 10 10-7 Noel Meade Jonathan Moore 20/1
PU General Principle 10 10-13 Gordon Elliott Ms L O'Neill 50/1
PU Tower Bridge 6 11-0 Joseph Patrick O'Brien J J Slevin 8/1
PU Spider Web 8 10-10 Thomas Mullins Niall P Madden 20/1
PU Minella Fair 8 11-0 Noel Meade Sean Flanagan 12/1
PU Whisperinthebreeze 6 10-13 Mrs John Harrington Paddy Kennedy 14/1
UR Vieux Morvan 10 10-12 Joseph Patrick O'Brien Oakley Brown 16/1
UR Any Second Now 7 11-10 T M Walsh Mark Walsh 9/1
UR Pont Aven 6 10-8 W P Mullins Conor McNamara 25/1
NR Blazer 8 11-1 W P Mullins NON RUNNER

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PREVIOUS WINNERS:
PADDY POWER HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE

YEAR       WINNER AGE TRAINER JOCKEY
2018 Auvergnat 8 E Bolger D J McInerney
2017 Anibale Fly 7 Tony Martin D Meyler
2016 Noble Endeavor 7 Gordon Elliott Davy Russell
2015 Minella Foru 6 Edward Harty Barry Geraghty
2014 Living Next Door 8 Tony Martin Denis O’Regan
2013 Rockyaboya 9 Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh
2012 Colbert Station  8 Ted Walsh AP McCoy
2011 Cross Appeal        5 Noel Meade Paul Carberry
2010 Majestic Concorde 7 Dermot Weld Mr Robbie McNamara
2009 Oscar Time 8 Martin Lynch Robbie Power
2008 Wheresben 9 Seamus Fahey Mr Jarlath Fahey
2007 Newbay Prop 8 Tony Martin Ross Geraghty

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