Cause Of Causes has been given a chance by the handicapper and makes plenty of each-way appeal at 16/1 in the 3.00 at Leopardstown today.
Gordon Elliott’s gelding is a tough sort who landed the 4m National Hunt Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival in good style off a mark of 145 before going on to round off the campaign with a fine eighth of 39 to Many Clouds in the Grand National at Aintree off 146.
Cause Of Causes is now able to race off a reduced rating of 142, and comes into the contest on the back of a promising reappearance run when a tenderly handled 12th of 28 to Minella Foru in the Paddy Power Chase at this venue.
That run should have blown away the cobwebs and put the eight-year-old spot on for this, and on the pick of his form Cause Of Causes looks dangerously well-treated.
The stable is also in fine form, and depsite JP McManus’s retained rider Barry Geraghty choosing to partner Haethfield over him it wouldn’t be the first time that he has got it wrong and everything looks in place for a big run in the hands of Mark Walsh.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Cause Of Causes (16/1 Coral – BOG)