Ratings Update: A Plus Tard enters the Gold Cup picture

There were 14 runners in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Monday, making it the largest field since the race was awarded Grade 1 status in 2002, but it was the quality rather than quantity which made for such a fascinating contest. The race, featuring six previous Grade 1 winners fences, produced a thrilling finish and represents a top-class piece of form, for all there is still plenty of debate to be had about the pecking order among Ireland's staying chasers.

Minella Indo and Delta Work, the first two in the market, exited the race at successive fences down the side of the course, which leaves some questions unanswered, while there are reasons to suggest that runner-up Kemboy (170 from 165+) or third-place Melon (166 from 159) could have come out on top had circumstances been different. However, it's still worth being positive about the winner A Plus Tard (168 from 166) and crediting him with a career-best effort on just his second attempt at three miles.

Stamina had been an obvious concern for A Plus Tard, who had shown enough speed to beat Chacun Pour Soi over 17 furlongs at this meeting last year, but he thoroughly stayed the trip and finished with a flourish under Darragh O'Keeffe (riding his first Grade 1 winner) to overhaul Kemboy by half a length. It's worth remembering that A Plus Tard only turns seven on New Year's Day, remains unexposed as a stayer and has a fine record at Cheltenham (won the novices' handicap chase by 16 lengths in 2019 and finished a close-up third in the Ryanair Chase last season), so he deservedly enters the Gold Cup discussion and is a top price of 12/1.

Melon also has a fine record at the Cheltenham Festival - he has finished runner-up at the meeting for the last four seasons - but has yet to gain that elusive win at the highest level. He ran a cracker on Monday, however, on his first try at three miles over fences and may well have won had he not made such an aggressive mid-race move.

That bold mid-race move from Melon also played against his stablemate Kemboy, who had been in a great rhythm in the lead, jumping better than is often the case. He was only collared by A Plus Tard in the dying strides having got racing with Melon from a long way out, but it was an encouraging performance and signifies a return to the sort of form he displayed during the 2018/19 season, when successful three times at Grade 1 level.

To highlight the competitiveness of the division, there are now more than ten staying chasers rated within 5 lb of dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo (171).

Unbelievable!

A Plus Tard snatches victory in a remarkable Savills Chase for Darragh O'Keeffe, @HenrydeBromhead and @CPStudOfficial 👏 @LeopardstownRC #LRCChristmas pic.twitter.com/5qzzEpgw5g

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 28, 2020

Mullins was also responsible for the next two home in the Savills Chase in the shape of Allaho (164 from 164p) and Tornado Flyer (remains on 164). Allaho may have finished 18 lengths behind Melon having looked such a big danger after jumping the second-last, but it's possible that he still needed the run (had been bitterly disappointing in the John Durkan) while he may also be better off over two and a half miles. His effort represented a step in the right direction and he is one to be positive about if presented with a race that offers a greater test of speed.

The result to the Savills Chase may have been a frustrating one for Mullins but the perennial Irish Champion trainer enjoyed plenty of success on the card, notching a four-timer, including with three promising types who carried the yellow and black checks of Al Boum Photo's owner Joe Donnelly.

The Big Getaway (149p from 124p), an imposing sort and very much a chaser on looks, had checked out tamely on his first start over fences at Navan three weeks earlier but he was much improved at Leopardstown, barely having to come out of second gear to brush Cedarwood Road aside by ten lengths. Stiffer tests await, but The Big Getaway developed into one of the leading novice hurdlers last season - he was third in the Ballymore - and he can take high rank in the novice chase division. For context, a rating of 149p places him in a similar bracket as Fusil Raffles (150) and Pencilfulloflead (150p), but leaves him with work to do to match Envoi Allen (154P) and Shishkin (165P).

He's back!

That's more like it from The Big Getaway, off the mark over fences for @PTownend and Willie Mullins at @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/VjFsWH32qP

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 28, 2020

Shishkin won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle for Donnelly last season and it wouldn't be a huge surprise were Gaillard du Mesnil (130p from 116p) to develop into a contender for a Cheltenham novice this season having been so impressive at Leopardstown. Gaillard du Mesnil had finished a promising second at Punchestown on his debut for the yard last month, and he duly improved at Leopardstown, cruising nine and a half lengths clear in the style of a novice with serious potential. Monday's victory was achieved over two and a half miles but, so powerfully did he travel, he should prove as effective back at two miles. His stablemate Appreciate It (148p) sets the standard in the division following his impressive win in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle.

Exciting prospect - Gaillard Du Mesnil saunters to success and looks another nice one for Willie Mullins and @PTownend at @LeopardstownRC #LRCChristmas pic.twitter.com/JpFEu4D6lo

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 28, 2020

Ramillies (106p from 91p) had been sent off a strongly supported 5/4 favourite on his bumper debut at Leopardstown 12 months ago but failed to meet expectations, coming home fourth. He belatedly proved why he's held in such high regard, however, as he bolted up by ten lengths on Monday, easing clear having travelled powerfully on the bridle. He looks set to take his chance in the Grade 2 bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival but will need to raise his game against Sir Gerhard, who sets the standard in the division with a rating of 115p.

Flooring Porter (152 from 143) won the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle and continued his remarkable rise, justifying connections' decision to supplement him. He had been beaten off a mark of just 131 at Gowran Park in October but bolted up by 12 lengths in a handicap at Navan three weeks ago and took another big step forward on Monday, making all under another well-judged ride from Jonathan Moore. The Storyteller ran on after the last to finish a never-threatening second, six lengths behind the winner, while Sire du Berlais and Fury Road were third and fourth respectively. Dual Pertemps Final winner Sire du Berlais (remain on 159) had looked like Ireland's leading Stayers' Hurdle hope before the race and that remains the case given his superb record at Cheltenham.

Fortune favours the brave!

Flooring Porter was supplemented for this Grade 1 prize and does the business under a fine ride from Jonathan Moore at @LeopardstownRC 👏 @gavincromwell1 #LRCChristmas pic.twitter.com/5QawDCCfgj

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 28, 2020

Four of the last five winners of the Pertemps Final have contested the Leopardstown qualifier on Savills Chase day, including Sire du Berlais for the last two years. The two to keep in mind with Cheltenham in mind could be runner-up The Bosses Oscar (146 from 139), who also shaped well when fifth in last season's Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at the Festival, and Morosini (remains on 137), who finished sixth, grabbing the final qualifying spot. The Bosses Oscar impressed with how smoothly he travelled and he is still relatively lightly raced, while Morosini stayed on gradually after meeting trouble and is still unexposed over three miles.