Paddy Power Chase |
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| (Extended Handicap Chase) Leopardstown 15:00 Grade B, €200,000 guaranteed 3m 50y, 5yo+  |
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1 Perceval Legallois 17/2
2
Midnight Our Fred 10/1
3
Pinkerton 11/1 1
4
Nick Rockett 25/1
27 ran NR: Positive Thinker Distances: 7l, 2l, nk
Time: 6m 12.10s (slow by 1.10s)
He finally wins a BIG one! 🏆
— Tote (@ToteRacing) December 27, 2024
🏆 PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS (£10.80) comes up trumps in the Paddy Power 🟢🟡@thetotecom | 🔞 GambleAwarepic.twitter.com/AIeY7ooNFw
Perceval Legallois finally banished his reputation for being a nearly horse by securing Champion owner JP McManus his 10th victory in this €200,000 feature race. The Gavin Cromwell-trained 17-2 shot delivered a stylish performance, going clear from the last under jockey Mark Walsh, ultimately winning by seven lengths.
Midnight Our Fred finished second, while Pinkerton and topweight Nick Rockett filled the frame in one of the most coveted handicaps of the year. McManus, known for his knack for teasing out big handicaps, had long identified Perceval Legallois as a horse with potential for such races.
During the summer, Perceval Legallois started as a well-supported favorite for the Galway Plate but made no show behind Pinkerton. He was also the favorite for September’s Kerry National but couldn’t make an impact against his stable companion Flooring Porter. After falling at the last in a Leopardstown Chase, Cromwell feared his chance to land a big race might have gone. However, events conspired in his favor during this race.
Mark Walsh, enjoying his first win in the race, explained that the favored outside line became congested, resulting in him being further back in the 27-strong pack than ideal. This allowed the horse to relax and start creeping his way through. After the last, Walsh's patience paid off, and they secured the victory in style. “This horse has threatened to win a big one for a long time. He kept going up in the handicap and I thought his chance was gone, to be honest,” admitted Cromwell.
Cromwell praised Walsh's ride, stating, “Mark gave him a great ride, he took his time and stayed wide for the better ground. They went a right good gallop, he took his time, and everything fell right for him.” Cromwell also celebrated a victory in Limerick’s Grade Two feature with McManus’s Bioluminescence.
Day two of the Christmas festival has become synonymous with the big-race sponsor, and parts of the program resembled a festive gift to them. This victory marked another successful chapter in JP McManus’s illustrious racing career and highlighted Perceval Legallois's potential in big handicaps.
The Paddy Power Steeplechase
Grade B, €200,000 guaranteed, 3m 50y, 5yo+
27 ran
Going: Good to Yielding, Yielding in places
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Perceval Legallois 7 11-4 Gavin Cromwell Mark Walsh 17/2
2 7 Midnight Our Fred 7 10-4 J P Flavin Alex Harvey 10/1
3 2 Pinkerton 8 11-9 Noel Meade Mr R James 11/1
4 nk Nick Rockett 7 11-12 W P Mullins Sean Cleary-Farrell 25/1
5 4¼ Will Do 7 10-2 Gordon Elliott Sam Ewing 5/1F
6 1½ History Of Fashion 10 10-5 P A Fahy Harry Sexton 33/1
7 5½ Three Card Brag 7 11-10 Gordon Elliott Carl Millar 17/1
8 ¾ Favori De Champdou 9 11-6 Gordon Elliott Mr J H Williamson 33/1
9 ¾ Horantzau d'Airy 7 11-9 W P Mullins Paddy Hanlon 33/1
10 2¾ Galon De Vauzelle 8 10-0 P J Rothwell Calum Hogan 50/1
11 ¾ Desertmore House 9 11-5 Martin Brassil Ricky Doyle 20/1
12 hd Panda Boy 8 11-5 Martin Brassil J J Slevin 7/1
13 nse Spanish Harlem 6 11-0 W P Mullins Sean O'Keeffe 40/1
14 1½ Meetingofthewaters 7 11-11 W P Mullins Peter Smithers 20/1
15 3½ Toss Again 7 10-11 Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe 33/1
16 26 Mars Harper 8 10-8 Gordon Elliott Danny Gilligan 25/1
17 9½ Adamantly Chosen 7 11-8 W P Mullins Charlie O'Dwyer 50/1
18 15 Life In The Park 7 11-5 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 28/1
19 3 Hgranca De Thaix 7 11-3 Barry Connell Sean Flanagan 9/1
20 7 Macdermott 6 11-4 W P Mullins Danny Mullins 33/1
21 19 Chavez 8 10-7 W P Mullins Michael O'Sullivan 66/1
FELL
Janidil 10 11-10 W P Mullins Aidan Kelly 22/1
FELL
Hartur d'Arc 7 10-13 Gavin Cromwell Keith Donoghue 50/1
PU Fakir d'Alene 9 10-10 Gordon Elliott Jody McGarvey 50/1
PU
Klarc Kent 8 10-6 W P Mullins Anna McGuinness 50/1
PU Lucid Dreams 9 11-7 John Ryan Daniel King 33/1
UR
Aime Desjy 9 10-11 W P Mullins Kieran Callaghan 50/1
NR 25 Positive Thinker 7 10-5 Michael J McDonagh NON RUNNER
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
PADDY POWER HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE
| YEAR | WINNER | AGE | TRAINER | JOCKEY |
| 2023 | Meetingofthewaters | 6 | Willie Mullins | Danny Mullins |
| 2022 | Real Steel | 9 | E McNamara | Conor McNamara |
| 2021 | Schoolboy Hours | 8 | Noel Meade | Sean Flanagan |
| 2020 | Castlebawn West | 7 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2019 | Roaring Bull | 6 | Gordon Elliott | Jack Kennedy |
| 2018 | Auvergnat | 8 | E Bolger | D J McInerney |
| 2017 | Anibale Fly | 7 | Tony Martin | D Meyler |
| 2016 | Noble Endeavor | 7 | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell |
| 2015 | Minella Foru | 6 | Edward Harty | Barry Geraghty |
| 2014 | Living Next Door | 8 | Tony Martin | Denis O’Regan |
| 2013 | Rockyaboya | 9 | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2012 | Colbert Station | 8 | Ted Walsh | AP McCoy |
| 2011 | Cross Appeal | 5 | Noel Meade | Paul Carberry |
| 2010 | Majestic Concorde | 7 | Dermot Weld | Mr Robbie McNamara |
| 2009 | Oscar Time | 8 | Martin Lynch | Robbie Power |
| 2008 | Wheresben | 9 | Seamus Fahey | Mr Jarlath Fahey |
| 2007 | Newbay Prop | 8 | Tony Martin | Ross Geraghty |
