A painful reversal yesterday courtesy of the clinically abnormal Sizing John’s eclipse in an ultimately disappointing Christmas Chase.

We are unlikely to see today’s equine star suffer defeat with the all-conquering Faugheen facing little meaningful opposition.

The best bet in the card might be from the in form de Bromhead yard in the novice handicap hurdle (1505).

He has a couple in the race, but the lightly raced Mind’s Eye is the mount of Davy Russell and looks the top choice.

The son of Stowaway should enjoy the soft ground and the step up to 2m4f, and an opening mark of 125 looks pretty fair coming off the back of an impressive beating of the useful Mullins novice Quick Grabim at Fairyhouse last month, with the well regarded Blow By Blow back in third.

We’ll be at Leopardstown to cheer him home, keeping an eye on Faugheen, and a watching brief on the Grade 1 novice base where the Mullins trained Bon Papa might be a little overpriced but not quite enough to warrant a bet.

Recommendation: Mind’s Eye, (1505 Leopardstown), 1pt win, 4/1 generally available 

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