Footpad making an impressive chase debut at Navan© Photo Healy Racing
Death Duty s surprise inclusion in the Racing Post Novice Chase field sets up a mouthwatering clash with Footpad in the feature event on the opening day of Leopardstown's Christmas Festival.
The Gordon Elliott-trained Death Duty is unbeaten in three starts over fences, completing his hat-trick with an assured display in the Grade One Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse earlier this month.
Elliott recently suggested a two-and-a-half-mile Grade Two at Limerick was Death Duty's likely target over the festive period, but he instead runs over two miles for the first time since his bumper days.
Elliott said: "I made my mind up to run in Leopardstown.
"It won't be easy as Footpad looks a very good horse, but it's a Grade One and we'll give it a go."
The Willie Mullins-trained Footpad was fourth in the Champion Hurdle at last season's Cheltenham Festival and could not have been more impressive on his fencing debut at Navan last month.
That foot-perfect display saw him rocket to the head of ante-post lists for the Arkle Trophy, but connections are not getting carried away.
Anthony Bromley, racing manager for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: "I think we'll all know a lot more after the race.
"Footpad has won a beginners' chase and is now stepping up into a Grade One.
"Death Duty being in the race will tell us whether Footpad is a worthy Arkle favourite, or whether we should be aiming for the JLT, or neither.
"The owners already have Sceau Royal as a potential Arkle horse, so it will be interesting to see how Footpad goes.
"Willie tells me he's in good form, so we'll see what happens."
Death Duty is one of two representatives for Gigginstown House Stud along with Henry de Bromhead's recent Punchestown scorer Avenir D'Une Vie
Ted Walsh 's Any Second Now and Jett from Jessica Harrington's yard complete the five-strong field.
