Unioniste still in Lexus picture A tilt at the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28th is "looking likely" for Unioniste. The Paul Nicholls-trained grey outstayed Wishfull Thinking to win a decent race at Aintree last time out, having finished third on his seasonal debut in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. Still only five, last year's December Gold Cup winner is one of four Ditcheat entries in the Christmas feature, but Silviniaco Conti is heading for the King George at Kempton, last year's winner Tidal Bay may run in the Welsh National and Rocky Creek is unlikely to be ready in time after meeting with a setback after the Hennessy. Unioniste's owner John Hales said: "It's looking likely that we'll take him over to Ireland, but no firm decision has yet been made. "We'll have to consider the ground, likely opponents, weather - Paul will weigh it all up and then decide. "So there's a chance he'll go, but as yet it's not definite. "He's got plenty of stamina, he showed that at Aintree, and I imagine we'll all know when we break up for Christmas."
