Willie Mullins leading Champion Chase hopeful Chacun Pour Soi made a decent start to the season when second to the Henry De Bromhead trained A Plus Tard at Leopardstown over Christmas and the trainers son Patrick still believes their horse has plenty to offer.
He will be sure to have a rematch at next week's Dublin Racing festival against De Bromhead's animal but Chacun pour Soi is one of the most highly rated athletes from the Irishman's yard this season.
The seven year old has only had three starts for the handler since joining from France back in December 2016 but has shown plenty of ability on all of his runs just losing his unbeaten record on his latest start.
Having not raced since March 2016 he went to Naas for his first run in nearly exactly three years in a Beginners Chase and showed a perfect temperament to take the spoils by 31 lengths.
He was then sent to the Punchestown festival with many punters still unaware of the ability of this horse but he gave one of the stand out performances of the meeting, beating the Arkle Novices Chase winner Duc Des Genievres and JLT Novices Chase victor Defi Du Seuil to land the Grade One Ryanair Novices Chase.
Thoughts on Ryanair Novice Chase first, second and third Chacun Pour Soi, Defi Du Seuil and Duc Des Genievres?
— Stuart 'Jimbo' Williams (@Jimbo_JumpsMan) September 4, 2019
Is Chacun Pour Soi the real deal?
Will Defi Du Seuil attempt 3m?
Is Duc Des Genievres flattered by his Arkle win? #RyanairNoviceChase
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He made his seasonal debut this season over Christmas at Leopardstown in a Grade One Chase against some superb horses and although looking like he had the race wrapped up he found nothing when coming off the bridle and was pipped close home.
Many have suggested that he needed the run and will come on heaps for that, the bookmakers certainly feel as though that is the case making him the 11/8 favourite for the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at Leopardstown next week.
(Credit Racing Post) Leading amateur rider Patrick Mullins said: "I was disappointed he got beat but I wouldn't say his bubble is burst just yet.
"He'd have to go and win at Leopardstown if he's going to live up to his reputation but I think we'll see huge improvement from Christmas.
"He jumped to the front three out and I thought he just blew up. A lot of our horses needed their first run, more so than in other years."
He added: "Maybe it's thinking more of Cheltenham, but I've noticed we've been easier on them [at home] than in other years. We got a bit of work done on our gallop at one stage and then we sensed a few of them weren't firing.
"Usually we wouldn't have run horses bar when we thought they were really ready to win, whereas this year Willie has been getting them out quicker. It might mean they're fresher come the end of the year."