The Savills Chase is the latest name for one of Ireland’s most prestigious Grade 1 chases, and it has been formerly known as the Ericsson Chase, the Lexus Chase, and the Leopardstown Christmas Chase. It is run over three miles at Leopardstown Racecourse on the 28 December and is the highlight of the brilliant four-day Leopardstown Christmas Festival.
Savills Chase 2018 Trends
- The last 10 winners have been aged between six and 11
- The last four winners have been owned by Gigginstown Stud
- Noel Meade has trained three of the last eight winners
- Three of the last 10 favourites have won
- SPs of the winners have ranged from 4/6 to 11/1
Savills Chase 2018 Main Contenders
Road To Respect
Last year’s winner will need to become the first back-to-back winner since Beef Or Salmon in 2005 if he’s to retain his crown, but he has a lot going for him otherwise. He should like the decent ground at Leopardstown and could well have improved since last season judged on his 16-lengths win on his seasonal debut at Down Royal. He’s also trained by Noel Meade and owned by Gigginstown Stud.
Presenting Percy
If you use the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting to gauge which horse should be favourite for this race, it should be Presenting Percy who is vying for favouritism at around 9/2 for the Gold Cup, whilst Road To Respect is available at 16/1. However, this will be the seasonal debut for Patrick Fahey’s seven-year-old and he may be better suited to the longer distance of the Gold Cup come March.
Bellshill
Willie Mullins has remarkably only trained one winner of this race and that just happened to be for Gigginstown Stud, whilst this horse is owned by Graham Wylie. That doesn’t mean he can’t win, and he would have every chance if he could repeat the form of his win in the Punchestown Gold Cup in April, when he had Road To Respect back in third. However, he’s yet to win on his three previous trips to Leopardstown and maybe better going right-handed.
Monalee
Course winner who has some very decent form over both hurdles and fences. However, the evidence so far is he’s vulnerable to stronger stayers over three-miles and may be better at slightly shorter distances.
Anibale Fly
Won a handicap at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival last year and ran some cracking races afterwards including a third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and a fourth in the Aintree Grand National. No surprise he was unsighted over two-miles on his seasonal debut but that should have got him fit for this. Likely to be staying on at the end of the race but might prefer a bit further in this company.
Savills Chase 2018 Summary
A fascinating clash between last season’s best Irish novice chasers and Ireland’s best established three-mile chasers from last season. The gut-feeling is we may not see the best of Presenting Percy, Bellshill, and Anibale Fly until later in the season, so this may be best left to the useful Road To Respect who is sure to have been primed by Noel Meade for Gigginstown Stud, connections who target the race on a regular basis.
Savills Chase 2018 Prediction & Betting Tip
Road To Respect