21 runners have been entered for the Grade 1 Savills Chase, the feature contest of the four-day Christmas meeting at Leopardstown. However, there will be no British interest in the race, as all 21 entries hail from trainers based in Ireland.
Last year’s winner Galopin Des Champs put in an exceptional display to win the race 12 months ago. He will bid for a repeat success, but trainer Willie Mullins has announced that stablemate and John Durkan conqueror Fact To File will join him in the race. The pair are the two clear favourites for the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup, with the young pretender one-upping his more experienced stablemate at Punchestown.
JP McManus has five more entries in his colours besides Fact To File. They include John Durkan runner-up Spillane’s Tower, the joint youngest horse in the race, Grand National winner I Am Maximus, National Hunt Chase hero Corbetts Cross, as well as Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin and another Mullins inmate in Capodanno. The Mullins hand could be further bolstered by Grangeclare West and Minella Cocooner.
Gordon Elliott will attempt to upset the procession courtesy of last year’s Savills Chas runner-up Gerri Colombe, though the year may also choose to run Found A Fifty, who is on a winning run over two miles. Former winners Conflated and Delta Work may represent Gigginstown House Stud, the latter a remarkable five years since he won the contest.
Defending King George winner Hewick may be in the mix despite the ban imposed on trainer Shark Hanlon; he will now run for Tara Lee Cogan. Henry De Bromhead’s trio of Envoi Allen, Monty’s Star and Heart Wood represent another big yard, as could Banbridge for Joseph O’Brien and the grey Gentlemansgame for Mouse Morris.
Eddie & Patrick Harty have conferred a speculative entry upon Grandero Bello, while Fastorslow is nominally among the entries, but has been ruled out for the season by trainer Martin Brassil.
Savills Chase 2024 Runners
| Number | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | Banbridge | Joseph O’Brien |
| 2 | Capodanno | Willie Mullins |
| 3 | Conflated | Gordon Elliott |
| 4 | Corbetts Cross | Emmet Mullins |
| 5 | Delta Work | Gordon Elliott |
| 6 | Envoi Allen | Henry De Bromhead |
| 7 | Fact To File | Willie Mullins |
| 8 | Fastorslow (NR) | Martin Brassil |
| 9 | Found A Fifty | Gordon Elliott |
| 10 | Galopin Des Champs | Willie Mullins |
| 11 | Gentlemansgame | Mouse Morris |
| 12 | Gerri Colombe | Gordon Elliott |
| 13 | Grandero Bello | Eddie & Patrick Harty |
| 14 | Grangeclare West | Willie Mullins |
| 15 | Heart Wood | Henry De Bromhead |
| 16 | Hewick | Tara Lee Cogan |
| 17 | I Am Maximus | Willie Mullins |
| 18 | Inothewayurthinkin | Gavin Cromwell |
| 19 | Minella Cocooner | Willie Mullins |
| 20 | Monty’s Star | Henry De Bromhead |
| 21 | Spillane’s Tower | John Joseph Mangan |