Benefit Night favourite for Paddy Power Chase

Danny O’Sullivan’s stable star Benefit Night is now the clear favourite for the Paddy Power Chase on December 27 after Wednesday’s forfeit stage.

The Leopardstown race sponsors go 10-1 about the seven-year-old, who won the Grade Two Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase at Naas in February.

Benefit Night, who was allotted 10st 12lb when the weights were released, was a good third to Royal County Star in the Troytown Handicap Chase on his first run of the season.

O’Sullivan said: “Benefit Night is definitely going for the race and Barry Cash will ride.

“He has come out of Navan good and seems to be in good form. The Troytown was a good run as the winner and second (Gazza’s Girl) had already had a run this season and ideally we would have had a run beforehand as well, but because of the firm ground in Ireland at the time, he couldn’t.

“Our fellow will love a bit of soft ground and he handles real soft very well. He won his Grade Two on heavy ground last season.

“Three miles would be no problem.

“He will have had a nice four-week break from his first run to the Paddy Power and I couldn’t be more happy with him.”

Gazza’s Girl was disputing favouritism, but is now out to 12s.

Sponsors’ spokesman Paddy Power said: “Benefit Night was a 14-1 chance at one time, but that hasn’t lasted long and he’s now the 10-1 ’jolly’.

“People love to take a few euro off the bookies and if a smaller trainer like Daniel can win our race, no-one will be happier than us.”

Paddy Power Chase Sponsors bet: 10-1 Benefit Night, 12-1 Gazza’s Girl, 14-1 bar.