Sizing Europe at Leopardstown

The Leopardstown Christmas Festival also continues today with the Grade One Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Chase over 2 miles 1 furlong at 14.25 the main feature. Sizing Europe (Henry de Bromhead/ Andrew Lynch) stands out here; he is just about the best two mile chaser in training and his only defeat in the past 12 months came when odds-on and very unlucky in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham. He will be at a very short price again today, but has the beating of all of these on the form book. Rubi Light (Robert Hennessy/ Davy Russell) is very smart but is surely running over the wrong distance, and for second spot we take CD specialist Big Zeb (Colm Murphy/ Robbie Power), who has already won this race 3 times - but has twice been well beaten by Sizing Europe this year. Paul Nicholls´ Edgardo Sol (Tony McCoy) is a raider from England who could run into the money, but McCoy´s main reason for being here is to partner Dermot Weld´s Waaheb in the Grade One novice hurdle at 15.00. We are a g reat admirer of the trainer, who likes nothing better than to put one over the jumps boys at the big N.H. meetings., and in Waaheb he has a possible champion here. Jezki (Jessica Harrington/ Robbie Power) and Sizing Rio (de Brpmhead/ Lynch), both unbeaten so far this season, are the obvious dangers. The big betting race here is the Paddy Power Chase at 16.10; this 3 mile handicap is a real challenge and big owner JP McManus clearly wants to win it with no fewer than 8 runners. McCoy is on Ted Walsh´s Colbert Station, so that could be the owner´s main hope, but we also like Alfie Sherrin (Jonjo O´Neill/ Richie McLernon); the latter landed some big bets at the Cheltenham Festival with this jockey aboard and looks as if he has been specially prepared for this race. He is not the only one of course and there has been a flood of money for Glam Gerry (Colm Murphy/ Brian Hayes), who is likely to start favourite kin this very tricky event.
There is also N.H. racing in Ireland at Limerick and in England at Wetherby, where Guillaume Macaire sends two runners over from France, Vizir d´Estruvel oin the 3yo hurdle at 14.45 and United Park in the novice chase at 15.55. Both are partnered by James Revely and should run well, but we just prefer the Monsun Mashaari (Brian Ellison/ Danny Cook) and Aland Islands (Tim Raughan/ Dougie Costello) respectively.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Diplomat - Call Me Bubbles - Teofolina
2. Race: Mumbo Jumbo - Celtic Cailin - Dancers Dilemma
3. Race: Rubi Light - Blazing Tempo - Forpadydeplasterer
4. Race: Jezki - Waaheb - Sizing Rio
5. Race: Carrigmartin - Il Fenomeno - Tennis Cap
6. Race: Colbert Station - Glam Gerry - Prince Of Pirates
7. Race: Very Vite - Mullaghanoe River - Giantofaman