Mullins bids for more handicap glory in Paddy Power Chase Emmet Mullins has already built up quite a reputation in his fledgling training career and could be doubly represented by Noble Yeats and Russian Diamond in his bid to land another big handicap prize in the €200,000 Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown on December 27. The three-mile event looks a typically wide-open affair with 45 entries remaining after today’s forfeit stage, and Coko Beach, Darver Star and Tout Est Permis head the weights all on 11st10lb. Noble Yeats has been allotted 11st3lb but is very inexperienced for such a competitive race with just seven starts under rules, although he's won three times including a defeat of Gabynako when switched to fences at Galway in October. Mullins is hoping for some rain to boost the chance of the six-year-old saying: "Noble Yeats definitely wants a cut in the ground, but they’re watering there trying to keep the chase track right and fingers crossed he should take his chance.” Asked about stepping up in trip to three miles after having run over an extended two at Cork last time, he replied: “I suppose we were trying to get soft ground which was tricky at the time and we also wanted to get handicap experience as well. It was his first run in a handicap which should stand him in good stead. “He won a two mile six furlong maiden hurdle at Navan on yielding to soft ground so I’ve no worries about the trip. Having handicap experience is a big worry with just the one run in a handicap, but if he can overcome that hopefully he should be competitive,” he added of the 8/1 chance. Russian Diamond is a 20/1 shot with the sponsors and was also last seen in action at Cork when a soundly beaten fifth in the Paddy Power Cork Grand National, having previously won a beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse. “Russian Diamond should be a runner as he is not as ground dependent. He’s also only had the one run in a handicap at Cork and he didn’t fair too badly over three miles and four furlongs which was a bit of a stretch on heavy ground. “He should appreciate drying ground at Leopardstown, but the big worry is handicap experience.” Paddy Power odds: 7 Conflated, The Bosses Oscar, 8 Alfa Mix, Noble Yeats, 10 Braeside, 12 Fully Charged, Ten Ten, 16 Agusta Gold, A Wave Of The Sea, Bois De Clamart, Champagne Platinum, Enjoy D’allen, Fan De Blues, Ilikedwayurthinkin, Longhouse Poet, Lord Royal, School Boy Hours, Stones And Roses, 20 Class Conti, Coko Beach, Discordanantly, Eurobot, Fakir, Le Musigny, Musical Slave, Poker Party, Russian Diamond, Foxy Jacks, Smoking Gun, Top Moon, 25 Ben Dundee, Birchdale, Cavalry Master, Defi Bleu, Mortal, Peaches And Cream, Tout Est Permis, Uisce Beatha, 33 Darver Star, Global Equity, Mindsmadeup, 40 Death Duty, Milan Native, 50 Soldier At War, 100 Stansfield
