More joy for Joseph as Le Richebourg lands Racing Post Novice Chase in style

Joseph O'Brien got a sneak peek at some of the World Cup venues while in Doha to see Ming finish fifth in the Qatar Derby last Saturday, and the 25-year-old can't stop scoring vital goals in big matches himself as Le Richebourg provided him with his third Grade 1 win at Leopardstown in less than a year.

Le Richebourg followed in the footsteps of Edwulf and Tower Bridge, both successful at the top level during the Dublin Racing Festival, and he is now a leading candidate for the Racing Post Arkle in March, with Paddy Power introducing him at 9-1, while BoylePports went a point shorter at 8-1 (from 20).

O'Brien said: "Mark [Walsh] gave him a lovely ride and he jumped very well. Last time he ran a cracker but I think the tempo of a two-mile race probably suited him better.

"Over further he jumps so well that you have to restrain him after a fence to preserve some energy. You don't have to do that over this shorter trip."

O'Brien added: "We've always liked him. He was good over hurdles, but probably disappointed us slightly and since he’s gone over fences he’s been very good.

"The obvious thing to do would be to come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival. I'd say more than likely he's an Arkle horse and that's where he'll be aimed now."

Us And Them completed the forecast for O'Brien, which paid €53.60 on the Irish Tote.

"Us And Them was always going to be better over fences than hurdles," the trainer added. "He jumps fantastic and ran a cracker."

Le Richebourg paid a big compliment to Delta Work, the leading RSA contender who had edged him out in the Drinmore at Fairhouse this month, and the ease with which Walsh moved to the front on the home turn suggests the five-year-old is more about speed than stamina.

The big disappointment of the race was Mengli Khan. Having looked so stylish when scoring on his chasing debut at Punchestown, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle third didn't jump with the same fluency on this occasion and was found wanting from the home turn, finishing fourth of the six runners.

BoyleSports reacted by pushing him out to 12-1 for the Arkle having began the day at half that price. Kalashnikov was trimmed into 3-1 favourite from 7-2 following Mengli Khan's flop.

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