Don Poli Looks To Do Festival Double

Nine line up for tomorrow`s RSA Chase, the current favourite for the three mile Grade One being Don Poli for Willie Mullins and Bryan Cooper. This will be the pair`s second coming together of the day, Outlander dominating the Neptune Investment Management Novices` Hurdle market, they hoping for good performances in both.

Lest we forget that Don Poli, who is available at 2/1 with most bookmakers, has already secured one Festival title. Last year the novice chaser picked up the Martin Pipe Hurdle on the final day of the proceedings. This former Grade Three winning hurdler has two chase runs under his belt and is yet to be beaten. The pick of these races was his last outing in the Grade One Topaz Novice Chase over this trip in Leopardstown. The short-priced favourite managed to fend off JLT chance Apache Stronghold by three lengths to claim the honours.

His nearest market rival tomorrow is Kings Palace, David Pipe`s four-time course winner. Whilst these victories came at three miles or more, the current second-favourite may lack the class of his opponent, having yet failed to pick up a graded chase. Indeed the 156 rated charge is also yet to take down a full sized field of runners when chasing and could be found out against such quality tomorrow. His only other run on the biggest stage of them all was in last year`s Albert Bartlett Hurdle, he fell at the last when weakening.

The Young Master is another course and distance winner and will be looking to give Neil Mulholland a quick-fire double following the trainer`s first ever Festival success with The Druid`s Nephew on day one. The six-year-old son of Echo Of Light is unbeaten chasing, including his disqualification in the Badger Ales Trophy and has shown himself to be a versatile mount on these outings. The listed winner was a 27 length victor in his first appearance over fences (Worcester, 2m,7f) before beating the likes of the experienced Houblon Des Obeaux and Hey Big Spender at 24f in Ascot`s Silver Cup.

Paul Nicholls will be hoping to open his account with Southfield Theatre tomorrow, the former runner-up in the Pertemps Network Final. Unfortunately, the King`s Theatre gelding has failed to live up to the promise previously shown in this race - failing to get the better of a small field on his only chase outing at this distance. Having said this the ground should be perfect for this 154 rated chaser though the trip is rather a large worry. paddy Power and Stan James have him at 15/2.

The Philip Hobbs-trained If In Doubt is a 12/1 shot (Numerous) to give AP McCoy a winner in his last ever Festival. Another former entrant of the Pertemps Final, the JP McManus mount will have to reverse the Festival form on Southfield Theatre but is in a brilliant position to do that following his listed victory in Doncaster`s three mile Skybet Chase. The seven-year-old looks progressive enough and will be looking for a hat-trick of wins.

Wounded Warrior, 14/1 at both bet365 and Skybet, is Gigginstown`s second entrant but finished second to the favourite at Gowran Park and has two lengths to find on him over this longer distance. Trained by Noel Meade, this 148 rated fancy picked up a Grade Two on his last run out at Naas at three miles and whilst it is quite a jump to claim a Grade one at the Festival, he seemed better suited to this distance. On that occasion he completed nine lengths clear of short-priced favourite Rule The World when on terms.

Mare Adriana Des Mottes (28/1 - 32red, bet365), Apache Jack (33/1 - 32red, paddy Power) and The Ould Lad (66/1 - Numerous) make up the rest of the field.

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10/03/2015     © Frixo 2026