Leopardstown Festival preview: It may be over 10 months since Bennie's Pride last jumped a fence in anger but that can prove no hindrance to Michael O'Brien's horse winning one of the most valuable races of the winter in today's Paddy Power Chase
A 170,000 pot means this is a race that quite a lot of people have been eyeing up for quite some time. But, when it comes to laying one out for a big handicap, few can come close to O'Brien.
Over the years, most of the big handicap prizes have fallen to the Naas trainer but if Tom Ryan can steer Bennie's Pride home in front it will be a first.
The horse, however, has already gained some Paddy Power experience when running well behind Coq Hardi Diamond on desperate ground here two years ago. There is also the plus point of winning form at the track when scoring last January.
That came off a handicap mark of 114 and Bennie's Pride races today off a mark only 6lb higher. Throw in Ryan's 5lb claim and there can be no arguing with his rating.
Significantly, there has been no question of interfering with it this season either as three runs have come over hurdles with the last of them looking to be an ideal warm-up.
That came at Clonmel over three miles on testing ground and only the high-class Rule Supreme was too good for him, eventually winning out by only a head.
Keeping horses away from fences for a prolonged period has paid off more than once recently with Ansar's Galway Plate proving it can be very much a positive.
Experience is very much an issue, however, with the horse who presents punters with something of a quandary today.
Some of Keepatem's form over hurdles means a convincing argument can be made for him being well in at the weights this afternoon.
Throw in a love of testing conditions and a liking for real stamina grinds and it's not hard to see why the JP McManus-owned runner has been so popular in the ante-post market.
There is no disguising his lack of experience though and a 30-strong field with no inch being given has found out hardier customers than Keepatem in the past. At the prices it could be worthwhile looking elsewhere.
Jack High, a winner over hurdles here two years ago, took advantage of a decent rating last time out to trot up in the Troytown at Navan. He had six easy lengths in hand of Jaquoille that day but has been raised 12lb since. Neither horse can be ruled out here.
Colnel Rayburn will tower over these physically but he will need every inch of his giant frame to cope with 12st so in the circumstances Bennie's Pride looks an each-way option.
There are no each-way options in the Dial-a-Bet Chase with Europe's highest rated chaser Moscow Flyer towering over his rivals in terms of ability.
Two wins for Jessica Harrington's superstar have helped turn this race into a Grade One for the first time and although Rathgar Beau comes back for another crack at his old nemesis, and does so in the form of his life, it's impossible to oppose Moscow Flyer.
In terms of intrigue the Grade Future Champions, Novice Hurdle is much more of a tease but Royal Paradise could be a bet to reverse some previous Fairyhouse form with the Noel Meade-trained Rocket Ship.
There are plenty who believe that the latter would have beaten his stable companion, Wild Passion, in the Royal Bond but for making a bags of the second last flight. Eventually Rocket Ship finished second and still had three parts of a length in hand of Royal Paradise.
If Bennie's Pride can pick up the big race, it could complete a valuable double for the O'Brien team as In Compliance looked a decent hurdling prospect when beating Letterman in a Fairyhouse bumper last month.
