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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One of the most competitive handicaps of the Christmas period takes centre stage at Leopardstown Racecourse on Saturday, where a typically deep and demanding renewal has attracted a maximum field of 28 declarations. With stamina, jumping and racecraft all at a premium, this is a race where proven course form and the ability to cope with relentless pressure often prove decisive.
At the head of the weights and the market are a cluster of well-established handicappers. Ballysax Hank and Weveallbeencaught look solid, reliable types for a contest of this nature, both having shown the ability to travel and jump fluently in big fields. Captain Cody adds further class near the top end, while Waterford Whispers brings plenty of experience and the kind of resilience often required to feature late in this race.
There is no shortage of progressive profiles lurking just below that tier. Sa Majeste, Midnight Our Fred and Backmersackme are all unexposed enough to suggest there could be more to come, while Backtonormal, Will The Wise and Will Do each bring solid staying credentials and the sort of consistency that is often rewarded in a strongly run Leopardstown handicap.
The middle of the field is packed with intriguing outsiders. Mossy Fen Park and Shanbally Kid have the look of horses who could be ideally suited by a strong gallop, while You Oughta Know, Now Is The Hour, Search For Glory and Kinturk Kalanisi are the type to creep into contention if things fall their way. Blizzard Of Oz, Monbeg Park, O’Moore Park and Nara add further depth, all capable of outperforming expectations on their day.
The classy Nara is much the best in the Suir Blueway Mares Chase for Mark Walsh, JP McManus and @HenrydeBromhead pic.twitter.com/KA3iePQ4M5
— ClonmelRaces (@ClonmelR) October 23, 2025
At bigger odds, Sandor Clegane, Noble Birth, Favori De Champdou and Yeats Star will need a career-best effort, but this is a race that regularly throws up surprise performances. Pied Piper, Hartur d’Arc, No Time To Wait and A Wave Of The Sea complete a marathon list of contenders in a renewal where little can be ruled out.
There are also three reserves waiting in the wings — Pride Of Place, Buachaillbocht and Beaufort Scale — underlining just how competitive this year’s contest is.
As ever with the Paddy Power Chase, luck in running, jumping accuracy and the ability to see out a searching three miles around Leopardstown will be crucial. With such depth and variety on show, this promises to be a true test of staying handicap chasing, and one that could have major implications for the rest of the season.
The Paddy Power Steeplechase
Grade B, €200,000 guaranteed, 3m 50y, 5yo+
28 runners (+3 reserves)
Going: Yielding, Good to Yielding in places
NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1 43U1-3 Captain Cody 7 11-12 W P Mullins Paul Townend
2 332-1P Blizzard Of Oz 7 11-11 W P Mullins J J Slevin
3 0-P424 Monbeg Park 8 11-11 Jack Foley Michael Kenneally
4 0F3256 Pied Piper 7 11-6 Gordon Elliott Mr J H Williamson
5 961-0P Backtonormal 7 11-5 Gavin Cromwell Conor Stone-Walsh
6 221FP2 You Oughta Know 7 11-4 W P Mullins Sean Cleary-Farrell
7 10-05F Favori De Champdou 10 11-2 Gordon Elliott Sam Ewing
8 F220-P Hartur d'Arc 8 11-2 John C McConnell Dylan Kidd
9 4FP-38 Now Is The Hour 8 11-2 Gavin Cromwell Kieren Buckley
10 320-20 O'Moore Park 8 11-2 W P Mullins Sean O'Keeffe
11 070-02 Search For Glory 8 11-2 Gordon Elliott James Smith
12 52-312 Ballysax Hank 6 11-1 Gavin Cromwell Keith Donoghue
13 513P-4 Sa Majeste 7 11-1 W P Mullins Mark Walsh
14 5-2214 Will The Wise 6 11-0 Gavin Cromwell Eoin Staples
15 /23-13 Mossy Fen Park 6 10-13 Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe
16 090P1- Shanbally Kid 8 10-13 W P Mullins Brian Hayes
17 544-42 Weveallbeencaught 8 10-13 E McNamara Sean Flanagan
18 21P-U1 Nara 5 10-12 Henry De Bromhead L P Dempsey
19 08-776 Sandor Clegane 8 10-12 Paul Nolan Liam McKenna
20 322UP- Kinturk Kalanisi 7 10-11 Thomas Gibney Harry Sexton
21 30-702 Will Do 8 10-10 Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
22 53C25P Yeats Star 6 10-9 Gordon Elliott Danny Gilligan
23 312P-2 Midnight Our Fred 8 10-6 J P Flavin Donagh Meyler
24 27-436 Waterford Whispers 7 10-6 Henry De Bromhead Ricky Doyle
25 39-22U No Time To Wait 7 10-5 John C McConnell Alex Harvey
26 10-6P4 Noble Birth 8 10-4 Gavin Cromwell Daniel King
27 -91318 A Wave Of The Sea 9 10-3 J P Broderick Charlie O'Dwyer
28 46-782 Backmersackme 6 10-1 Emmet Mullins Jake Coen
R29 1U2219 Pride Of Place 6 10-1 E Bolger
R30 PU91-3 Buachaillbocht 7 10-0 T M Walsh
R31 027277 Beaufort Scale 6 10-0 Gordon Elliott
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
PADDY POWER HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE
| YEAR | WINNER | AGE | TRAINER | JOCKEY |
| 2024 | Perceval Legallois | 7 | Gavin Cromwell | Mark Walsh |
| 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 |
