Leopardstown preview: Paddy Power Chase (14.55)

David Metcalf | December 24, 2015

Gilgamboa shaped really well on seasonal reappearance, so looks decent each-way value in a wide open renewal of Sunday’s Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown (14.55).

The Enda Bolger trained gelding developed into a very smart novice chase last season when winning three of his six starts, and showed a tremendous attitude in the last of those when beating The Tullow Tank in a Grade 1 contest over 2m 4f at Fairyhouse.

After showing plenty of pace to track the leaders, Gilgamboa made a bad mistake four out and quickly came under pressure.

The seven-year-old then responded well to the urging of jockey AP McCoy and stayed on powerfully to join the leaders approaching the last before asserting on the run-in to score by 1/2 a length.

Get behind Gilgamboa each-way

It was a performance which showed Gilgamboa had both class and guts, and one which suggested he needed keeping firmly onside this season.

That view was confirmed when the son of Westerner made an eye-catching return to action when third to Djakadam in a hot Grade 1 contest over 2m 4f at Punchestown earlier in the month.

Gilgamboa raced kindly after being settled just off the pace, and after a mistake at the seventh kept on nicely to be gaining all the way to the line and beaten 13 1/4 lengths without being unduly knocked about.