PICKING a highlight from the numerous classy events and individual performances which took place in Ireland and Britain over the festive period is not easy, but the contest which got the pulse racing most was probably the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Monday.

Few of the leading staying chasers were absent, though two of those who did run – Minella Indo and Delta Work – departed early on in a race that ended up being run at a pretty searching gallop on what was soft ground.