Blueberry Boy set for compensation
Truth to tell, this is not the toughest graded race ever run and Paul Stafford's game six-year-old is fancied to make all the running.
The decision of the Punchestown stewards to stand him down earlier in the month raised more than a few eyebrows.
He eventually beat Powerstation by a neck, after the pair had got close at the final flight, and then the selection hung away towards the stands side on the run in.
Stafford believes his charge needs to go left-handed to be seen to best advantage and, with Barry Geraghty now replacing 5lbs claimer, Andrew Lynch, in the plate, Blueberry Boy can deliver.
Moscow Flyer, with a minimum of 29lbs in hand of all of his rivals, should be a certainty in the Grade One Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase.
If the real Moscow Flyer turns up then there can only be one result, but he arrives on the back of a below-par effort at Navan and trainer Jessica Harringon's horses are badly out of form.
Central House beat Moscow Flyer by three and a half lengths at Navan and has since followed with a smooth defeat of Rathgar Beau at Cork. He gets the vote.
Luck in running will surely play a big part in the outcome of the Paddy Power Chase, but the one they all have to cope with is likely favourite, Jaquouille.
He was beaten into second spot in the race a year ago, by a well handicapped horse in Keepatem, and has clearly been laid out with this in mind.
Jaquouille runs off a mark just 4lbs higher and caught the eye big-time when sixth over flights behind Lovely Present at Fairyhouse earlier in the month.
Vox Populi, beaten by the useful Artist's Muse at Fairyhouse, can take the Paddy Power Festival three-year-old Hurdle.
Best Bet at Limerick today is Mr Aussie, grabbed late by Laureldean at Gowran Park, in the Supermacs Maiden Hurdle.
Drunken Disorderly, who didn't appear to stay the extended two miles and six when going under to Oscar's Advance at Thurles, should find the Guinness Christmas Hurdle more to his liking.
