AS ever huge interest surrounds the latest edition of the Paddy Power Chase and there are quite a few appealing contestants for the latest edition of the €200,000 spectacular which takes centre stage on the second day of the Christmas Festival.

This year a hopeful vote goes to the Liam Cusack-trained Snugsborough Benny whose efforts to date mark him out as a horse with the capacity to land a big pot over fences. The eight-year-old is still open to plenty of progress over the larger obstacles as he has made just seven appearances over fences.

A recent midfield finish in a handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse is of no concern as that was his first run since August so he is sure to be all the better for that outing. Furthermore he served notice of his ability to contend in the highly competitive environment of one of the country’s most hotly contested handicap chases when winning at Galway during the summer.

That victory came in the 20-runner Galway Blazers Handicap Chase and it saw him get the better of quite a smart opponent in A Rated. That race was run over just short of three miles so Snugsborough Benny looks capable of dealing with this new trip and he has also shown a preference for better ground which is another notable positive for his chances.

One can never especially confident in a race such as the Paddy Power but this eight-year-old appeals as a likely leading contender. Owner J.P. McManus is chasing a third win in this race in the last four years and he could field a number of candidates.

The useful novice Any Second Now is one that could go well even though he has yet to win over fences.

FLAWLESS

Perhaps the race of the day will be the Paddy’s Rewards Club ‘Sugar Paddy’ Chase where Footpad could bid to bounce back from his shock defeat at Naas last month. The six-year-old had a legitimate excuse for that Naas run and it is easily forgiven bearing in mind his absolutely flawless novice chasing campaign that yielded a Grade 1 four-timer.

Footpad is likely to face quite an interesting examination here with his possible rivals including his supremely talented free-going stablemate Great Field who was an early casualty on his reappearance in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork earlier this month.

The Hilly Way witnessed a superb display from Castlegrace Paddy who ran riot in defeating Doctor Phoenix by 16 lengths and that effort suggested that he could be a player at the top level over two miles this season. The high class Ballyoisin, who is chasing a five-timer, could also provide Footpad with a stern examination and regular Leopardstown visitor Simply Ned is an intended starter.

The Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle has a rather open look to it and is perhaps indicative of a division which has yet to take shape. In the expectation that Willie Mullins will send Tornado Flyer to Naas next month, the vote goes to Joseph O’Brien’s Triplicate who chased home Quick Grabim in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse earlier this month. It is worth bearing in mind that only three favourites have managed to win this race since 2002.

The opening juvenile hurdle tends to be the strongest maiden of its kind run each season and a fascinating entry is Sir Erec who has transferred from Ballydoyle to Joseph O’Brien. He was last in action when finishing an excellent third to Stradivarius in the British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot.