12/21/12 - Henry de Bromhead’s very promising chaser, Days Hotel, will almost certainly miss the Leopardstown Christmas Festival meeting at which he had been expected to take his chance in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase, and wait instead for an alternative engagement at Thurles in January, writes Elliot Slater.

The gelded son of Oscar had proven himself an exciting novice chasing prospect last term, when winning both his outings at Punchestown, starting with an easy success in a beginners chase before being immediately stepped up significantly in class to tackle the Grade 2 Ladbrokes.com Bet In Running Craddockstown Novices Chase.

Leading at the fifth from home, Days Hotel dug deep and fought off all-comers to eventually score by six-and-a-half lengths from the decent Lucky William.

Unfortunately for all concerned with the seven-year-old, he then sustained an injury and was not seen again until reappearing at Cork earlier this month when sent off a 4/1 chance for the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase for which the smart pair of Realt Dubh and Blazing Tempo were the market principals.

Despite more than a year on the sidelines, Philip Enright’s mount was never far from the action before moving into the lead at the second from home, going on to draw clear of Realt Dubh to score by an impressive six lengths.

The talk had been of Days Hotel taking on even better horses at Leopardstown, but, after giving the matter plenty of thought, De Bromhead has probably wisely decided that after such an absence it might be asking too  much of his potentially high-class charge to race again within 18 days.

He has instead decided to wait until mid-January to go for the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles, an outing that could put his horse spot on for a crack at one of the big events such as the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, for which Days Hotel is currently on offer at 16/1.

Also on the racing calendar for 2012 is the feature event on Boxing Day; visit the Betfair King George VI Chase webpage for the latest on the high-profile contest.