Thursday 28 December · Leopardstown, Eire
13:15 Ballymaloe Relish Rising Stars Beginners Chase
- Distance
- 2m 5f 70y
- Going
- Soft (Soft to Heavy in places)
- Class
- 0
- Prize
- EUR 17500
- Runners
- 5
Race preview
Willie Mullins has a couple of strong contenders in Fact To File and MINELLA COCOONER with slight preference for the latter even though he reappears here after a 13 months absence. The selection was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles at this venue and jumped well on his chasing debut when runner-up to stablemate Classic Getaway at Gowran. Point-to-point winner Fact To File was a high class performer in bumpers last season and made a bright start when sent chasing last month finishing runner-up to American Mike with Spirit Of Legend well adrift in fourth. Zanahiyr was the pick of these over hurdles winning five times and also placed twice in the Champion Hurdle and is obviously a big threat to all if taking to fences.
| Pos | Horse | Form | Jockey | Trainer | Wgt | SP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fact To File | 1/122-2 | Mark Walsh | W P Mullins | 11 12 | 4-6 | |
| 2 | Zanahiyr | 335-124 | Jack Kennedy | G Elliott | 11 12 | 5-1 | |
| 3 | Minella Cocooner | 21122/2- | Paul Townend | W P Mullins | 11 12 | 5-2 | |
| 4 | Spirit Of Legend | 12B60-4 | Rachael Blackmore | H De Bromhead | 11 12 | 18-1 | |
| 5 | Finnfaraway | UUP46P | Gavin Brouder | Patrick J Hassett | 11 12 | 250-1 |