Operation Houdini Paddy Power Fav Operation Houdini is the 10-1 favourite with the sponsors for the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown on December 27. The handicap is a possibility for Davy Fitzgerald's charge along with the Coral Welsh National, having been disqualified and placed second in the Cork Grand National and then taking the same position in the Troytown Handicap Chase. Fitzgerald said: "Operation Houdini's next run will be either in the Paddy Power Chase or the Welsh National at Chepstow. He is crying out for further than three miles - all he does is stay - and it all depends upon the ground." He added: "If it was testing at Leopardstown, he'd go for the Paddy Power and if it's not, he'll go to Chepstow." Fitzgerald forgives his charge his defeat in the Troytown, when he only went down by a length to Notre Pere. "He was just unlucky to get a bit close to the last two and if he had winged them, I think that he would have won," he added. "He's on a nice mark in Ireland for the Paddy Power off 126 now in a 0-145 race and I still think that he's well-handicapped, but he needs to get his head in front." Tony Martin has plenty of arrows to choose from for the race. The trainer said: "Hold The Pin ran well last week when fifth in the Troytown and the first two will get a penalty. With a bit of luck, he will improve a bit after last time and he was also hampered a bit and he might be good enough to beat the third and fourth. "Ross River is a maybe - he's back on the scene although it's doubtful as it might come a bit quick but he's entered. Dantes Reef runs next weekend and it all depends what way they come out of their races and go and we'll make our minds up then."
