Chacun Pour Soi and Envoi Allen set for heavyweight Leopardstown clash

Top two-mile chaser Chacun Pour Soi is set to go it alone for Willie Mullins in the Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club Chase (1.10) on December 27 after 2-5 favourite Energumene was absent from Thursday's declarations.

Beaten John Durkan Chase favourite Envoi Allen is among the four runners in line for a crack at the 2m1f event, as well as Battleoverdoyen and Sizing Pottsie.

Chacun Pour Soi failed to fire when last seen as 8-13 favourite for the Tingle Creek earlier this month but returned sore from his trip to Sandown, having failed to jump with his usual fluency.

Energumene: not declared for the Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club Chase on December 27Credit: Patrick McCann

Mullins suggested that the star chaser's discomfort may have been caused by him seemingly taking the chestnut off a hock, comparable to the sensation of a long-distance runner losing a big toenail while racing.

1.10 Leopardstown (Dec 27): Paddy's Rewards Club Chase racecard and betting

On the same card at Leopardstown, Kilcruit does not feature in the final field for the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (1.45).

His Cork conqueror Largy Debut, Royal Bond third Mighty Potter and classy mare Grangee are the standout contenders in the six-strong field.

Leading Paddy Power Chase (2.55) player Conflated, who would have been set to carry topweight, was a notable absentee from Thursday's declarations for the €200,000 prize.

Coko Beach, one of five in the race for Gigginstown, and Darver Star now head the weights, while JP McManus has nine declared contenders, including strong candidate Alfa Mix.

It could be a massive afternoon for Cheveley Park Stud on December 26 as the last two Champion Bumper winners, Ferny Hollow and Sir Gerhard, have been declared for Leopardstown.

Leopardstown December 27 full racecard, betting and final fields

Sir Gerhard storms up the Cheltenham hill to win the Champion BumperCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ferny Hollow, Sir Gerhard and Fil Dor set to light up Boxing Day

Ferny Hollow, who made a winning debut over fences at Punchestown earlier this month, is one of six in the final field for the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase (2.20) on December 26 and will take on unbeaten chaser Riviere D'Etel.

Mullins will take the wraps off Sir Gerhard in the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle (12.35) as Paul Townend teams up with the leading Supreme Novices' Hurdle fancy for the first time in public.

Elsewhere on the card, Triumph Hurdle favourite Fil Dor will bid to follow up his impressive Fairyhouse success in the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle (1.10), which sees a field of seven go to post.

Leopardstown December 26 full racecard, betting and final fields

Cromwell targets Limerick with top novices

Limerick's highlight of the festive period, the BoyleSports Faugheen Novice Chase (2.40) on December 26, is spearheaded by top Gavin Cromwell-trained talents Gabynako and Vanillier.

Gabynako: set to bid for Grade 1 glory at Limerick this ChristmasCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

A trio of useful Gigginstown-owned youngsters, Farouk D'Alene, Fire Attack and Lieutenant Command, add substance to the top-level event, while the Jessica Harrington-trained Lifetime Ambition is another high-quality addition to the eight-strong field.

Ginto, mooted to tackle the Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle on January 2, was not declared for Limerick's day-two feature, the Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Novice Hurdle (2.05).

High-class bumper performer Eric Bloodaxe is set to line-up in the Grade 2, though, while exciting novice chase prospect Haut En Couleurs is in line to make his debut over fences in the 2m1f Paddy Power Games Beginners' Chase (12.35) on day two at Leopardstown.

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