What a race we have to look forward to here.

Last season’s runaway Arkle winner, Gaelic Warrior, looks to lay down a marker for the Champion Chase, but is he vulnerable on his first start of the season on ground, which may be faster than ideal?

Get my thoughts on Gaelic Warrior and all runners with my runner-by-runner betting guide.

Get the best odds, sign-up offers, and promotions from the best online horse racing bookmakers here.

Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase runner by runner betting guide

Now it’s time to take an in-depth look into runners of the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.

4 Gaelic Warrior

• Age: 6
• Weight: 11st 12lb
• Form: 11U12-
• Rating: 166
• Jockey: Mr Patrick Mullins
• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Odds: 11/10

The enigma that is Gaelic Warrior comes in here, sitting at the top of the Champion Chase market, but is he vulnerable here?

The ground is on the quick side, and we know how fast Leopardstown can dry, so I have to take him on at the prices, given that he is known to throw in a wobbler on good ground.

He would be of massive interest if the ground were on the soft side as when he won the Faugheen Novices’ Chase at Limerick last Christmas, but there is a niggling worry about the ground on the first start of the season.

But, if he is beaten today, that would not put me off backing him for the Arkle Novices’ Chase come the Cheltenham Festival in March.

He has more than enough ability to win, but I have to take him on at the prices.

A massive talent
Last season’s Arkle winner

Bombed out over fences here last season
Can throw in a bad run out of nowhere

Star rating:

Bet on Gaelic Warrior with talkSPORT BET

3 Found A Fifty

• Age: 7
• Weight: 11st 12lb
• Form: 221-11
• Rating: 162
• Jockey: Sam Ewing
• Trainer: Gordon Elliott
• Odds: 4/1

Found A Fifty is another novice chaser who comes here as a Grade 1 novice chase winner. He has made a good start to his career in opening company, winning his first two starts.

His first win came at the expense of Pinkerton when conceding 14 pounds to the Galway Plate winner.

He was turned out only 14 days later in the Grade 2 Fotria Chase, where he looked as if he would pull away after taking up the lead after the second last, only for him to jump badly right at last, hampering his rivals, eventually scraping home by a neck.

I was disappointed with that run, and the fact that he jumped out to his right throughout does not increase the enthusiasm for Found A Fifth back at Leopardstown.

He is a course and distance winner, but he must leave his last run well behind him to take today’s tougher challenge.

Couse and distance winner
Two from two in open company

Jumped badly right last time

Star rating:

Bet on Found A Fifty with Sky Bet

10 Dinoblue

• Age: 7
• Weight: 11st 5lb
• Form: 1223-2
• Rating: 157
• Jockey: Mark Walsh
• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Odds: 7/1

Dinoblue was a seven-length winner of this race last season and went on to place in two Grade 1s, and was unlucky not to win the Mares Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

This season, she made her comeback in the Hilly Way Chase, where she ran well for a long way only to fade late on and was left a clear second when Banbridge unseated his jockey at the last.

She should come on plenty for that run, and with a course record of a Grade 1 win and Grade 1 second, she rates as a big each-way player here.

Despite this being a better renewal than last season, Dinoblue looks set for a big run here, with her seven-pound mares allowance a big help.

Last season’s winner
Good course record
Get a seven-pound mares allowance

Would prefer softer ground

Star rating:

Bet on Dinoblue with Paddy Power

6 Marine Nationale

• Age: 7
• Weight: 11st 12lb
• Form: 1/15-2
• Rating: –
• Jockey: Sean Flannagan
• Trainer: Barry Connell
• Odds: 7/1

The world looked to be at Marine Nationale’s feet when he impressively won the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but things have not gone as planned.

An impressive chase debut win was followed by a huge flop when sent off 4/7 favourite Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival, where he looked as if he was struggling to breathe when asked for his effort.

He had been off the track for 281 days when making his return in the Grade 3 Barberstown Castle Chase as the 8/11 favourite, but like last season, it was clear that he was struggling coming up the home straight.

If you are contemplating betting on Marine Nationale today, you are merely backing him, hoping that he will leave all previous form over fences behind.

His current price leaves a lot to be desired and is in no way an inviting betting proposition.

Looked like a horse with the world at his feet

Has not lived up to the hype
Well beaten on his return
Doesn’t find much off the bridle

Star rating:

Bet on Marine Nationale with Midnite

2 Captain Guinness

• Age: 9
• Weight: 11st 12lb
• Form: P312-P
• Rating: 164
• Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
• Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
• Odds: 16/1

Captian Guinness was a fortuitous winner of the Champion Chase last season, but he did deserve his day in the sun that day. He went close to winning back-to-back Grade 1s but was run down in the shadows of the post by Banbridge.

He has a history of running bad races due to a heart condition, and that problem arose once again on his seasonal return as he looked to win back-to-back Bar One Racing Fortia Chases.

There is every chance he could bounce back to form here, but backing him is a big risk.

But, if he is to bounce back, he is at a price where you could take a chance each way.

Champion Chase winner

Flopped on his comeback

Star rating:

Bet on Captain Guinness with Betfred

5 Gentleman De Mee

• Age: 8
• Weight: 11st 12lb
• Form: 42U-35
• Rating: 160
• Jockey: Danny Mullins
• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Odds: 33/1

A well-beaten second in this last season, Gentleman De Mee needs to find his best form to return to winning ways here.

He’s become very expensive to follow, but there are bags of talent when he chooses to show it, as when he finished second in the Champion Chase.

He was back to running well below par behind Found A Fifty last time out, but with Danny Mullins back on board, he can be dangerous if left alone on the front end over a course and distance that he tasted Grade 1 glory on.

Can be dangerous on this ground
Will enjoy the ground conditions

Has more bad runs than good

Star rating:

Bet on Gentleman De Mee with bet365

8 Solness

• Age: 6
• Weight: 11st 12lb
• Form: 011324
• Rating: 153
• Jockey: J J Slevin
• Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
• Odds: 40/1

For all that Solness was a neck second to Found A Fifty at Navan last time out, he was put in his place by Jonbon in the Tingle Creek.

He’s a horse performing at a decent level, but this is beyond him in such a deep Grade 1 chase on all known forms.

Ran well at Navan

Has a lot to do to reach the places

Star rating:

Bet on Solness with SBK

1 Blue Lord

• Age: 9
• Weight: 11st 12lb
• Form: 83/4-4
• Rating: 157
• Jockey: Daryl Jacob
• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Odds: 50/1

The 2022 winner of this race needs to find a lot more since his comeback.

Blue Lord has been hit with injury problems over the past season, and even though he should come on plenty for his seasonal return, this looks like a tough ask for him.

If he were to show some of his old form, there is a slight chance that he could grand some place money.

Former winner of this race

Doesn’t look like the same horse since his setbacks

Star rating:

Bet on Blue Lord with BetMGM

9 Visionarian

• Age: 9
• Weight: 11st 12lb
• Form: -P014P
• Rating: 150
• Jockey: Keith Donoghue
• Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
• Odds: 100/1

Visionaries is merely up the number here. He is impossible to fancy for a place, let alone a win.

None at this level

Out of his depth

Star rating:

Bet on Visionarian with BetMGM

7 Senecia

• Age: 7
• Weight: 11st 12lb
• Form: 4PU4U3
• Rating: 139
• Jockey: Mr B O’Neill
• Trainer: Vincent Laurence Halley
• Odds: 200/1

You can safely rule out Senecia here.

He’s well out of his depth here.

None at this level

Has no chance

Star rating:

Bet on Senecia with Midnite

Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase verdict

If the real Gaelic Warrior shows up today, he will take a lot of beating, but I want to take a chance with last season’s winner, DINOBLUE.

She was an impressive winner of this last season, and with the valuable mare allowance, I see her running into a place at worst.

Captain Guinness can run into a place if he returns to his best.

Current Betting: Gaelic Warrior 11/10, Found A Fifty 4/1, Dinoblue 7/1, Marine Nationale 7/1, Captain Guinness 16/1, Gentleman De Mee 33/1, 40/1 bar.

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