Un De Sceaux For PP “App” Chase – Leopardstown Tips

The big races just keep coming throughout the festive period, when punters can choose from a feast of high-class animals, including Un De Sceaux (1/3) in the Grade 1 PP “App” Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday (1.15pm).

Another Grade 1 For Sceaux?
Willie Mullins’ 7yo went from strength to strength last season, scooping a trio of Grade 1’s at Leopardstown, Cheltenham and Punchestown (2m/2m1f) in the most impressive fashion. Winning margins of 15l, 6l and 3l rarely saw him come under any serious pressure as he simply ripped his rivals apart, and a repeat of those efforts on his reappearance would be good enough on Sunday.

The only blip on Un De Sceaux’s record to date was a fall on his chase debut 13 months ago

when making his seasonal reappearance, and he’ll need to be a lot sharper first time up this time around.

Although it’s hard to see beyond the odds-on favourite if he turns up in the form we saw last spring, there is still plenty of each-way value around, including Gordon Elliott’s, Clarcam (8/1).

Clarcam The Value
A Grade 1 novice winner over C&D at this meeting 12 months ago (soft), Clarcam was twice firmly put in his place by Un De Sceaux, prior to getting back to winning ways when landing a second Grade 1 at Aintree, (2m4f), where Un De Sceaux was absent.

While he has a fair bit to find if troubling the jolly, he is certainly capable of making the frame.

Yonger To Beat Older Stablemate?
Also capable of getting placed is Un De Sceaux’s older stablemate, Felix Yonger (10/1). This 9yo has been in scintillating form during the last 12 months, winning five of his six races.

Among that haul was a Grade 1 win at the Punchestown festival (2m, yielding), plus a Grade 2 win at Navan a few weeks ago (2m1f, heavy). Clearly no back number, Felix Yonger has been there and done it, handles conditions, and his last time out win has been a good sign in this race…

Trends
Of the last 10 winners…
10 were officially rated 150 or higher
10 ran in a Grade 1/Grade 2 last time
9 won during their last three runs
6 won last time out
C Murphy won it three times, W Mullins twice

Bromhead’s Pair Well-Priced
Trainer, Henry De Bromhead, will also be looking to win this race again, having won it in 2012 with Sizing Europe, and he enters the talented pair, Sizing Granite and Smashing (both 14/1).

Smashing has a fair bit to find with Un De Sceaux having been 12l behind him at Fairyhouse 12 months ago, though Sizing Granite still has improvement to come, having won a Grade 1 at Aintree. His reappearance second when beaten a head in a Grade 3 was encouraging, and he will strip fitter for that outing.

Recommended Bets
Punters will be looking to Un De Sceaux as their “festive banker”, and it’s difficult to see him getting turned over if jumping well.