LE Richebourg went into the Christmas period the top-rated novice chaser on time jointly with Delta Work (who had beaten him narrowly in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse) but got deposed despite producing a 154 timefigure again in winning the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown. Topofthegame – mentioned elsewhere – now shades things after events at Kempton.

Le Richebourg won fair and square in a race which should represent solid form, with Us And Them (149), Voix Du Reve (148) and Mengli Khan (147) following him home.