Paddy Power Handicap Chase, Leopardstown December 27th - The Key Trends

- Only once in the last 10 runnings has the race been run on faster than yielding/soft ground.
- Cane Brake won the race off 11-3 last term (apprentice jockey claimed 7lbs), but the previous 7 winners carried (including claims): 10-5, 10-8, 10-1, 9-11, 9-2, 9-5, 10-8.
- All of the last 9 winners were aged between 6 and 8 – 2 were 6yos, 4 were 7yos, 3 were 9yos.
- Winners were returned at a variety of prices.
- Of the last 9 winners, none finishes worse than 5th LTO. 7 of those 9 had finished in the first three.
- All of the last 10 winners had run in the previous 47 days (i.e. 7 weeks). None had more than 4 runs since October.
- Massive trend towards unexposed horses – none of the previous 10 winners had run more than 7 times in handicaps.
- 5 of the last 10 winners were previous track winners. 2 of the other winners had a first three finish at the track to their name.
- Proven stamina isn’t huge important – 5 of the last 10 winners had yet to win over 3 miles. All had won over 2m5f though.
- Tactics makes little difference.
- 6 of the last 10 winners, including the last 3 (the race is possibly becoming a classier affair), had placed in a pattern race.
- None of the last 9 winners had been chasing for more than 3 seasons. 8 were second-season chasers or novices.