Rock on with China

The centrepiece of an outstanding card has been weakened over the last few days following the defections of Synchronised, Quito De La Roque and Jessies Dream and this could leave the way clear for China Rock to claim a first success at this level.

Andrew Lynch's mount will need to improve on the form he showed when fourth in this race last year and he has yet to run over fences this season. However, there was a good deal of encouragement to be taken from China Rock's comeback run over hurdles at Punchestown last month when he was fourth to Ipsos Du Berlais.

That was his first run since he picked up an injury when pulling up in last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup and he is sure to have improved for that outing. In addition the ground at Leopardstown (yielding to soft) will be better than what China Rock encountered in this race last year and that will aid his cause.

He is the highest rated runner in the field and it is worth remembering that he showed some quality form in the first half of last season. At Punchestown in October 2010 he accounted for Sizing Europe over 2m 7f and the following month he finished a fine third to Kauto Star at Down Royal. If he can match those performances he will be able to mount a strong challenge.

Esprit Respect

The big race favourite Quel Esprit is entitled to the utmost respect. He enjoyed no luck at all after making a winning start over fences last season when failing to complete on his next three starts.

However, he has enjoyed a pair of confidence boosting success in small runner conditions events at Naas and Thurles. Those victories should have left him in good shape for a return to the highest level and no horse in the field has as much room for improvement. From an early stage of his career Quel Esprit looked a potentially high class staying chaser and this is his chance to shine.

Of the others last season's RSA Chase hero Bostons Angel is quite interesting. A triple Grade 1 winner last term, he has not run to his best in two outing this season but his yard is in much better form than it was two months ago and he fitting of cheek pieces could aid his cause.

Another runner worthy of respect is Magnanimity who is very closely matched with Bostons Angel on the best of his form last season. The Dessie Hughes inmate was beaten a long way in the Lexus Chase on his reappearance but that was his first run since he picked up an injury in the RSA Chase. He did run well for a long way in the Lexus before tiring markedly from the second last fence and that run is likely to have brought him forward substantially.

Cash Call

Earlier the Deloitte Novice Hurdle is a thoroughly intriguing event as it brings together a trio of Grade 1 winners in Cash And Go, Sous Les Cieux and Captain Conan. This race represents a rare chance to equate high quality English and Irish novice hurdle form so close to Cheltenham.

The French import Captain Conan made a bright start to his career with Nicky Henderson when winning last month's Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown. He can do better still and is a major contender but this looks a tougher assignment.

Sous Les Cieux made a fine start to the season when winning a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle and then the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle back at that track in early December. However, he had to settle for third behind Cash And Go in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at this track just after Christmas. Sous Les Cieux is better than he got to show last time and the longer trip of this race could well play to his strengths.

Nonetheless preference in this race goes to Cash And Go. The five-year-old has progressed especially well since he was sent over hurdles and has won all three of his starts over timber. He stepped up markedly on the form of his first two wins to claim that aforementioned Grade 1 here at Christmas when he edged out Dylan Ross.

Cash And Go could yet do better still and the step up to this trip shouldn't present him with any problems as he is a half-brother to his trainer's classy hurdler Catch Me who often seemed to be at his best at around over two and a half miles. He is taken to confirm form with Sous Les Cieux and deal with the threat of Captain Conan.

Straight Match

The Dr. P.J. Moriarty Novice Chase is a straight match between Last Instalment and Lambro with another declared runner, Bog Warrior, having run at Naas on Saturday.

Last Instalment has done everything right over fences this season and has registered convincing wins on his three starts over the larger obstacles. Last time out he posted a particularly taking effort at this track when he accounted for First Lieutenant in a Grade 1 over three miles.

The drop back in distance should not be a major problem for the Anshan gelding and he can contain the threat posed by Lambro. However, the last-named is not one to underestimate and he comes here off a fine effort in defeat at Naas early month when he chased home Flemenstar.

Lambro gave Flemenstar a good test at Naas before eventually losing out by three and a half lengths and that form was franked in some style by the winner several weeks later.

The opening Spring Juvenile Hurdle is one of the most competitive events of its kind run in Ireland for several seasons. Countrywide Flame and Asaid are two credible challengers from across the Irish Sea and first-named should provide an interesting perspective on the English juvenile hurdlers having run second to Hollow Tree in the Final Juvenile Hurdle last time out.

Sportsmaster and Shadow Catcher look to be two promising four-year-olds having won maidens last time which have been working out quite well. Both have the capacity to run big races but preference is for Ut De Sivola. He has won his two starts since arriving in Ireland although he would probably have had to work a good deal harder for victory at Punchestown last time had Hisaabaat not blundered away his chance at the last flight. A better performance will be needed from him here but expect the Robin Des Champs gelding to emerge at the head of the Irish juvenile hurdle division following this race.

Follow Up

In the mares handicap hurdle Willie Mullins Catleen looks capable of following her win at Limerick last month. She is nine pounds higher as a result of that success and this is a more competitive event but she could just be a horse to stay on the right side of for the coming weeks.

A competitive two miles handicap may be best watched but the evergreen Dul Ar An Ol is put forward following a season that has already yielded two wins and a respectable eighth place finish behind Citizenship in the Boylesports.com Hurdle at this track last month.

A quality renewal of the hunters chase sees a number of high profile performers in this sphere cross swords. On The Fringe, who won this race last year, reappears for the first time since finishing fourth in last year's Foxhunters at Cheltenham.

Also in the line up is Salsify who developed into one of Ireland leading hunters chasers late last season. He will need to step up on the form he has shown so far this season though and he was pulled up in a hunter chase at Thurles last month.

Viking Splash is also capable of holding his own in good company but he has yet to reach peak form this term while Tammys Hill served notice that he could be a player at this level when running out a convincing winner of a point-to-point at Tyrella last month.

Vic Venturi gets the vote having won his two starts in point-to-points this year. The former Beecher and Bobbyjo Chase winner is still capable of very smart form as he showed when chasing home Follow The Plan in a Punchestown Grade 1 in May. If he can run close to his best on his return to the track he should take plenty of beating.

Recommended:
2.10 Cash And Go 1pt win
3.45 China Rock 2pts win
4.20 Vic Venturi 1pt win