"Whether he'll improve enough to beat
Footpad, I don't know.
leprae in Mouse
Footpad (MFP) were studied by Colston and Hilson.
Proven over further than today's two miles and a furlong, Min looks a cut above these rivals and is a confident choice to beat British raiders Simply Ned, which swooped late to beat
Footpad over this route at Christmas, and SAINT CALVADOS, which landed a Grade 2 at Naas in November before finishing a wellbeaten third to Altior in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.
The long-time Cheltenham favourite Ivanovich Gorbatov could only manage fourth here as
Footpad posted a career best effort by some distance.
FOOTPAD is expected to bounce back from his seasonal debut 'blip' at Naas to foil his stablecompanion Great Field in the Paddy's Rewards Club Sugar Paddy Chase, one of two Grade 1 events on today's card in Leopardstown.
After being handed the perfect start to the day with the surprise victory of
Footpad in the GAIN Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown, the duo were dealt a setback as their Champion Hurdle contender Peace And Co met with a shock defeat in the Contenders Hurdle.
And he was booked for third spot when falling at the last, behind last season's star two-mile novice
Footpad, when he fell at the last in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown in early February.
KEMPTON's King George VI Chase remains an option for
Footpad despite Willie Mullins' star chaser picking up an injury at Naas on Saturday.