Tisdall excited about Final Demand’s Leopardstown task

Professor Caroline Tisdall is relishing a return to Leopardstown to watch “horse of a lifetime” Final Demand in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase on Sunday.

One of the most exciting horses in training, the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old brought up a third Grade One success when winning the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick over Christmas.

He will now return to the Foxrock venue he lit up at last year’s Dublin Racing Festival looking to enhance his formidable reputation with Tisdall, who owns Final Demand alongside Bryan Drew, saying: “He’s the horse of a lifetime.

“I’m over the moon to have him and it’s amazing as I’ve never had such a Grade One winner before, he’s won three Grade Ones which is fantastic.

“It’s exciting and I love going racing at Leopardstown, I find going racing in Ireland so relaxed.”

A total of nine remain in contention for a race Mullins has won five times in the last six years and in which he could also saddle Gold Dancer, Jimmy Du Seuil, Kaid D’Authie and Kitzbuhel, who has an alternative engagement in Sandown’s Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase the day prior.

Romeo Coolio is also in the mix despite Gordon Elliott stating a preference to run over the shorter two-mile distance in Saturday’s Irish Arkle.

There are four Grade Ones in total on Sunday’s card with seven remaining in the Timeless Sash Windows Irish Champion Hurdle.

The headline attraction is Lossiemouth who will put her Cheltenham Festival aspirations to the test having taken up Champion Hurdle favouritism following the injury suffered to Sir Gino last weekend.

She could once again clash with Gigginstown’s star performer Brighterdaysahead after only a length separated them when they clashed over course and distance at Christmas, with the two leading trainers in Ireland responsible for all the possible runners.

Others confirmed include Anzadam, fourth behind the two aforementioned mares last time out, Triumph Hurdle winner Poniros, El Fabiolo, Ballyburn and Casheldale Lad.

There are also seven remaining in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase where Barry Connell’s reigning champion chaser Marine Nationale could get the chance to avenge his narrow reversal over the festive period at the hands of Joseph O’Brien’s Solness.

Majborough was third that day and alongside dual Champion Chase hero Energumene makes up the Mullins challenge, with Elliott’s Found A Fifty (fourth), Gavin Cromwell’s Only By Night (fifth) others taking part with a bit to find.

Ballyfad, Davy Crockett, Talk The Talk and The Reverend are among 14 confirmed for the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle. El Cairos has also been left in but has been declared to run at Thurles on Thursday.