Ruby Walsh: Polidam poised to prosper on Paddy Power Chase day

Polidam was quite eye-catching at Navan last time out when he beat Acapella Bourgeois and got an 8lb penalty for it.

I don’t think the handicapper was overly harsh on him and he’s a worthy favourite for Wednesday’s Paddy Power Steeplechase (3pm) is a hugely competitive race as always.

His stablemate Pleasant Company is in great order, but it’s only his first run of the season. He is in really good form though.

There’s a few really interesting ones in here as well. Tom Mullins’ Oscar Knight along with Gordon Elliott’s Squouateur could be challengers, while Call The Taxie could be a good big each-way price in the field.

No need for an adjudicator, Msassa is mature enough to win

Mr Adjudicator could head to Limerick because I’d image Willie Mullins will divide him and Msassa as best he can in order to ensure he gives himself as many opportunities as possible to have as many winners as he can.

Msassa works nicely and I thought he was older then a three-year-old because he’s a very mature- looking horse.

He mightn’t have the pace of Mr Adjudicator, but looks to have bags of stamina. Look out for him in the Paddy Power ‘Only 363 Days Till Christmas’ Maiden Hurdle at 12.10pm.

Bacardys ran well at Naas last month, he just didn’t jump as well as you’d like.

That was disappointing because he’d schooled well at home and he’s got experience in the point-to-point field.

He’s been working nicely recently, it was just he didn’t jump well, for whatever reason, at Naas.

Having said that, he tipped up in his first run over hurdles in Cork last year before winning a maiden hurdle in Leopardstown over Christmas and then winning a Grade One Novice Hurdle in February.

Hopefully, he will get back on track this festive season and progress over fences in the Paddy Power Cash Card PPlus Beginners Steeplechase (12.40pm).

More rest gives Min the nod

Min could run in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Steeplechase at 1.15pm instead of Un De Sceaux and he’s in great nick.

Remember it will only be about 17 days since Un De Sceaux won the Hilly Way Steeplechase at Cork.

I know it was only a two-mile race, but that was hock-deep ground and he carried all the penalties. He still put up a huge performance and Christmas could come too soon for him.

Dick Dowling who does all his work at home with him is very happy with Min and he won the Racing Post Novices Steeplechase there last year. Hopefully, Min can step up to fill the void left by Douvan in some little way.

Finally, I’d Imagine Sharjah will go in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (1.50pm) – with possibly Real Steel and Carter Mckay too.

Real Steel had a good showing in Thurles a few weeks back and Sharjah has been good twice in Gowran Park, so he’ll have the experience over Real Steel.

However, Mengli Khan is likely to surface here and he’ll be difficult for anyone to beat. He had two runs last season but has already had three wins under his belt this year as well.