Strong line-up for Tramore's New Year feature The Grade 2 Savills Chase at Tramore is a race that has grown in stature in recent years mainly due to Al Boum Photo winning it on the way to his two Gold Cup successes. Tramore racecourse manager Owen Byrne says he is looking forward to this year’s renewal which attracted a strong entry including 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo. The latter is one of five declared and is very much favoured by the weight structure as he receives 8lb from likely main rival Stattler who is rated 10lb inferior to Henry de Bromhead's charge. As well as Paul Townend's mount Stattler, Willie Mullins has also declared useful types El Barra and Cilaos Emery while James Griffin's Aintree Grand National hopeful Roi Mage completes the line-up. "There's a number of good horses who have always gone to our race and then they might go to the Thyestes," Byrne told journalist Dave Keena. "At that time the Thyestes was seen as the springboard to the Gold Cup but now, with the way racing has gone, they kind of go to us and then maybe go on to the Gold Cup. "So we're really lucky to have this race. We've had Al Boum Photo winning it four times and then going on to win two Gold Cups, but the race line-up, in terms of the depth of it, is a little bit deeper this year. "We've a number of nice horses coming and, please God, they'll all turn up and we'll have a lovely race." Regarding his main hope Stattler, Willie Mullins had this to say: "I think Stattler was three from three last year, something like that, and I just thought I'd go down there for softer ground. We're going to get that down there and he's in great form. "He's up against it with Henry's horse (Minella Indo) in the field but it's going to be a nice place to start his season anyhow. "I think he has improved since last season. He'd probably want a further trip but two miles and five in heavy ground around there, and the type of horses that are going to be down there, I think stamina is going to come into play and that's his forte." Racing starts at 11.55am on New Year's Day (Sunday) with the big race at 2.15. The ground is soft on the hurdles course and soft, soft to heavy in places on the chase course following 10mm of rain since Wednesday. Fresh ground is available on both tracks. It's set to be dry today with the possibility of showers prior to racing. Fairyhouse also race on Sunday with a 12.15 start. Following 4.5mm of rain overnight, the ground is soft and there is an unsettled forecast with up to 25mm (approx) of rain predicted prior to racing.
