This year’s Early Christmas punt is Morning Assembly in the Topaz Novice Chase, which will be run at the Leopardstown festival on 29 December.
This is as much a bet against Ballycasey who at 7/4 looks too short on what he’s achieved so far.
Ballycasey has won a lone beginners chase; Morning Assembly has won a Grade 2.
When they met over hurdles over a 3 mile trip, Morning Assembly beat Ballycasey by 7 lengths.
Ballycasey may prove the better staying chaser, but both horses look like improving for the switch to fences, and until Ballycasey shows it on the track he shouldn’t be 7/4 to Morning Assembly’s 3/1.
In any bloody bally casey, it’ll be good for the game to see a trainer other than Willie Mullins pick up a decent prize.
Morning Assembly – 3pts win at 3/1 (Boylesports).
The Bacchy Races 