Like-A-Butterfly set for Leopardstown

Like-A-Butterfly is among the entries for the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day and Christy Roche…

Like-A-Butterfly is among the entries for the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day and Christy Roche's popular mare could face some of the country's best two-mile novices in the Grade One contest.

Having won the 2003 Irish Champion Hurdle as part of an exceptional career over timber, the 10-year-old returned from over a year and a half off the track to win impressively first time out over fences at Naas last month.

A more surprising entry for the valuable contest is another Irish Champion Hurdle winner, Edward O'Grady's 2002 victor Ned Kelly, who has not raced for over two years.

Of those with chase form, the Noel Meade-trained Sir Oj has looked right up with the best on his three runs to date and could again lock horns with Mariah Rollins, who would have got closer to him but for a mistake at the final fence in last month's Craddockstown Chase.

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Completing the field of 11 are Tom O'Leary's Newmill, who was impressive at Clonmel recently, along with Aye Aye Popeye, Guilt, Healy's Pub, Kahuna, Steel Band and Tiger Cry.