Prince Has The Power

Stephen Mahon is praying for plenty of rain in order to run Prince Of Tara in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown on Thursday week.

The 10-year-old, among 50 horses left in the 190,000 euro handicap at the latest forfeit stage, relished testing conditions to score in great style at Navan earlier this month.

His seven-length success prompted the sponsors to cut his odds from 25-1 to 14-1.

'At the moment the jury is out whether Prince Of Tara will go as he wants real soft ground and it all depends on the weather,' said Mahon.

'I have declared him for the race and weather-permitting, he will possibly go for the Paddy Power and if not, there is a race for him at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

'At Navan it was nearly unraceable and it is a case of the softer, the better and I will play it down to the end.

'Navan was great after he has cheated death four or five times. He broke down with 95% tendon damage and I got him back to winning the Troytown after 10 months in 2005 and he is a real tough nut.

'He then pulled up in that year's Paddy Power Chase when Barry Geraghty felt that something wasn't quite right and things subsequently got worse when he fractured his pelvis.

'Three miles plus is his trip and three miles on heavy ground is fine, but it's a funny old race.

'You can't help thinking that he was pulled up in it before and OK, he wasn't right but that is still a bit of a scare. He is in great old order now and as sound as a pound after Navan.'

Danny O'Sullivan's Benefit Night remains 10-1 market leader after finishing third to Royal County Star in the Troytown Handicap Chase on his reappearance at Navan last month.

The Jessica Harrington-trained Gazza's Girl, who split those two in that race, is 12-1 second-favourite.

Paddy Power Chase, sponsors bet: 10-1 Benefit Night, 12-1 Gazza's Girl, 14-1 O'Muircheartaigh, Afistfullofdollars, Chelsea Harbour, Hear The Echo, Mattock Ranger, Newbay Prop, Prince Of Tara, Sea Diva, Well Tutored, 16-1 bar.

(C) PA Sport