Easier task for Chelsea Harbour
A tough and resolute sort, the conditions of the race are stacked in his favour and a performance approaching his best should be more than sufficient.
The nine-year-old warmed up for this test with an outing at Punchestown 21 days ago, finishing fifth of six behind Casey Jones.
He now faces a far easier assignment and the selection is bound to strip a lot fitter, with that run and three weeks work under his belt.
Mouse Morris’ Venalmar will be the focus of much attention in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Beginners Chase.
This will be his debut over fences, having been absent since the Punchestown Festival in April of last year.
Prior to Punchestown, Venalmar showed what a quality horse he is when beaten a neck into second by Fiveforthree in the Ballymore Properties Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Chances, however, are he will need the outing - over a trip on the short side - and a watching brief is surely the wise option.
In what has the makings of a cracking and informative contest, the vote goes to Give It Time, who was set to make the perfect start over fences, but for falling when clear at the last at Wexford.
At Leopardstown’s rescheduled meeting the nap vote goes to Donnas Palm in the 21-runner wide-open November Handicap.
This programme was postponed last Sunday and Donnas Palm wasn’t among the original declared runners.
It would be mildly ironic then should he take the prize, but there are solid reasons for thinking him capable of doing just that.
Noel Meade’s charge is in the form of his life, fresh from scoring on the flat at Navan and over flights at Punchestown, will revel in the testing conditions and has a talented 10lbs claimer aboard.
