O'Neill takes aim at Mate

Jonjo O’Neill is set to pitch Keen Leader in against triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate at Leopardstown.

The Jackdaws Castle handler is leaning towards the Lexus Chase at the Irish track on December 28 rather than the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby for the eight-year-old, who was a moderate third to Horus in the Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase at Haydock on his seasonal debut.