Conceding weight to 27 opponents, on heavy ground, and in a €190,000 pot guaranteed to provoke maximum competition, is hardly an obvious betting ploy but Gilgamboa can break the usual big handicap rules in Leopardstown’s Paddy Power Chase on Sunday.
The Day 2 Christmas festival sponsors are also putting their corporate weight behind a pair of Grade 1 prizes but it is the big-money highlight which will attract most attention, particularly around its own Grade 1 performer.
Gilgamboa proved himself a top-flight performer as a novice and for a horse regarded as potentially possessing Gold Cup-type ability, Monday’s Lexus Chase would represent a more obvious choice of festive option.
However an official 150 rating allows Gilgamboa into this handicap, albeit with automatic topweight. He is one of eight JP McManus trained declarations - plus a reserve - and it is the three miles and very soft going which is actually encouraging trainer Enda Bolger.
The claiming rider find of the season Jack Kennedy also takes a valuable 5lbs off the topweight’s 11.10 and Bolger said: “He would want to be competitive off 11.5 if he is to be the horse we think he is. I’ve been going on about him wanting three miles and he gets it for the first time now and he likes soft ground.”
Gilgamboa is rated a 50-1 shot in some ante-post Gold Cup betting lists but if he can land one of the most competitive handicaps on the calendar those odds will tumble. His inclusion undoubtedly brings a touch of class to the race and it will be fascinating to see if that is enough to overcome some hardy handicappers.
McManus's No. 1 rider Barry Geraghty is on Minella Foru and this one too looks a horse who should relish a first racecourse start over three miles. Whether he will take to very testing conditions the way Gilgamboa is expected to is debatable however.
A long-awaited first appearance of the season for Un De Sceaux finally comes in the €100,000 two-mile feature and anything but a smooth victory will be a shock for many.
The only blemish on his 10-race CV for Willie Mullins was a fall on his chasing debut but otherwise he was faultless last season and on everything we know he should be well clear of these.
No such assumptions can be made for the Future Champions Novice Hurdle, a ten-runner heat featuring the Royal Bond 1-2, Long Dog and Bachasson, from the Mullins yard as well as Tombstone who brings a huge reputation from Gordon Elliott’s.
Woodland Opera comes here comparatively under the radar but is two from two and looks a type to relish what will be a stamina test, even over the minimum two mile trip.
Limerick’s St Stephens Day card had to be cancelled due to waterlogging but the Grade 2 Shannon Airport Novice Chase has been transferred to Sunday - should it pass an 8.00 morning inspection.
Free Expression and Outlander still hold their ground for the feature and the McManus runner can reverse last month’s Punchestown form with his rival.
Myztique ran into a potentially good one in Monbeg Rose at Thurles last Sunday and the competition in the mares maiden hurdle looks easier.
Leopardstown: 12.10- Let's Dance 12.40- Supasundae 1.15- Un de Sceaux 1.45- Woodland Opera 2.20- Copy That 2.55- Gilgamboa 3.30- Tarare
Limerick: 12.00- River Run 12.30- Misdflight 1.00- Myztique 1.35- Free Expression 2.10- Killer Crow 2.45- Lake Field 3.20- Ringrone Castle 3.55- Show Court
