MOUNTHENRY HAS MAJOR CHANCE AT PUNCHESTOWN

MOUNTHENRY (40) has slipped under my radar until now, never earning a decent speed rating over hurdles. That changed when he was stepped up to two and a half miles to take the Grade 2 Michael Purcell Memorial at Thurles.

Mounthenry lost on his hurdles debut (most horses do). But he's won six of his seven starts over timber since. His only loss came when he ran third in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Hurdle. And now I suspect it was the shorter distance of that race which found him out. At this distance, or perhaps a bit longer, he looks a very interesting prospect for the Punchestown Festival.

Runner-up TENGO AMBRO (39) also lost his hurdles debut before beating the useful County Final at Punchestown. I don't know why he ran so poorly next time. But I always think it's a good idea to allow any horse one bad run. This run suggests that Tengo Ambro has every chance of fulfilling his trainer's stated ambition of winning the National Hunt Chase as the horse's dam did. In fact if he shows this sort of ability over fences the Sun Alliance would be a reasonable target.

ONE COOL COOKIE (37) ran a terrific race to finish third. He took a point to point by 20 lengths and is bred to be a chaser. His sire is Our Vic who has a sensational record with his novice chasers. His dam is Lady Bellingham whose other foal to race so far is In Compliance, Grade 1 placed over hurdles and unbeaten in two chases. He looks a great prospect for the bigger jumps next term.

SOUND WITNESS IS SMART

SOUND WITNESS (38) ran a big time to take a 0-130 handicap chase at Naas. He's now won both his completed starts over fences and could basically be anything. Maybe he needs ground this soft. Perhaps he's best at three miles plus or when fresh. At this stage there's just not enough evidence to draw any firm conclusions. All I can say is that he ran a Grade 3 time here and looks capable of winning in much better company.

Runner-up LOTOMORE LAD (38) won a valuable novice chase the last time he ran on a very stiff track at three miles in mud. It could be that he's at his best at such courses (i.e. Naas and Navan) or it may simply be that he tends to hit form at this time of year. Either way I'd be wary of opposing him next time.

NEW FIELD LOOKS SMART

NEWFIELD (37) beat a good field to win the Mick Holly Memorial Chase at Leopardstown. It looks like he won't be taking up his engagement in the Jewson at the Festival as his trainer's still concerned about his jumping being too novicey. He also says he prefers jumping fences left-handed.

Wherever he goes next I'd be interested in Newfield's chances as he's obviously a very progressive young horse.

Munster National winner STAR CLIPPER (37) only just went under over a trip on the short side for him. He ran a bit faster a few runs back when close up in the Troytown and looks very capable of winning another big handicap chase on soft ground.

MURRAYFIELD CAN WIN AGAIN

I always try to identify a pattern in form of horses that clock fast times. Usually there's some explanation for their poor runs. But in the case of MURRAYFIELD (36) I have to confess I see no obvious pattern. He ran his best race in ages two runs ago. Now he's gone and clocked a good time to win at Thurles. I can only conjecture that he's taken a long time to get fit following a break of more than two years. Now that he's back to his best he ought to be able to take advantage of the fact that he's running off a ludicrously low official handicap rating for a horse that had such useful form before his long absence.