Willie Mullins: high hopes

THE Grade 1 Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Chase is the feature event on today's card at Leopardstown where all the races are sponsored by Paddy Power. The two-mile contest has attracted a quality field headed by the Edward O'Grady-trained Tranquil Sea, winner of last month's Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, and Tom Cooper's Tingle Creek Chase runner-up Forpadydeplasterer, not to mention Noel Meade's Watson Lake.

All three runners command obvious respect but slight preference is for Golden Silver, one of two runners from the in-form Willie Mullins stable. The seven-year-old made a very pleasing return to action at Cork earlier this month when easily landing the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase by a length from Watson Lake. Golden Silver obliged with the minimum of fuss on that occasion and is sure to have come on from the run which was his first outing for eight months. He gets the vote to collect at the expense of Forpadydeplasterer.

Trainers Tony Martin and Robert Tyner will have the sponsors running for cover if either Lochan Lacha or Askthemaster prevails in the three-mile Paddy Power Chase which looks to be as competitive as ever. Tyner, in particular, has an excellent record in this race, while ante-post favourite Lochan Lacha carries the hopes of handicap race king Martin.

However it may pay to take a chance with the Kieran Purcell-trained Paddy Pub, a horse who had the misfortune to be brought down at the first when favourite for the Troytown Chase. The six-year-old has enjoyed a confidence-boosting win over the smaller obstacles since and will relish this trip. And Fionnegas can complete a Grade 1 double for Willie Mullins in the paddypowerpoker.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle. Sweeps Hill looks the one for the forecast.

Racing also takes place at Limerick where Conor O'Dwyer's good moneyspinner Hangover may be good enough to take the honours in the Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase. Special Token, who finished second to Lonesome Dove at Cork last time, can reap the reward for her consistency in the ITBA Southern Region Mares Flat Race. And amateur Denis Cullen can keep up recent momentum with success in the Cornstore Maiden Hurdle.