Don Poli a Topaz Novice Chase gem

Don Poli created a huge impression when scoring on chasing debut and can take the step up in grade in his stride to land the Topaz Novice Chase at Leopardstown today (3.05).

A gelding trained by Willie Mullins, Don Poli developed into a very useful hurdler last season, landing Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before finishing a cracking second to Beat That in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Punchestown.

The five-year-old was then off the track for 206 days before reappearing at Gowran Park last month and easily landing a 2m 4f novice chase.

Don Poli jumped really well for the vast majority of the race and only had to be pushed out to readily pull clear and beat the well-regarded Wounded Warrior by 2 1/2 lengths.

Judged on the manner of that success, the son of Poliglote looks a very exciting recruit to the chasing ranks and the step up to 3m this afternoon seems sure to suit.

With the prospect of plenty more to come, Don Poli looks the one they all have to beat in the hands of Bryan Cooper.

There are plenty of dangers in what is a cracking renewal, and Shannahan’s Turn and The Tullow Tank command plenty of respect.

The former is trained by the in-form Henry De Bromhead and is unbeaten in two starts over fences.

In the first of those, the six-year-old easily beat Wounded Warrior by 3 3/4 lengths at Punchestown, and on a line through the runner-up is closely matched with Don Poli.

Shannahan’s Turn backed that up with a solid display to land a Grade 2 contest at the same venue and, although this is much tougher, the son of Indian Danehill is clearly going the right way and may well have more to offer.

The Tullow Tank was a top class novice hurdler last season and looked the real deal when making a winning debut over the larger obstacles at Fairyhouse last month.

Strapping six-year-old The Tullow Tank jumped well throughout, and after taking up the running three from home stayed on strongly to easily beat Mala Beach by 5 1/2 lengths.