Sunday assessment

After a very informative day on Saturday, there weren't many Festival clues around in England, Scotland or Ireland on Sunday (3 February).

All the leading contenders for the big races at Punchestown got turned over, albeit that some could be forgiven poor runs on the extremely testing ground.

The most notable casualty was Newmill, whose disappointing effort in the Tied Cottage Chase cast doubt over the form of Kicking King's recent comeback race.

Newmill remains on target for the Champion Chase but, although he has always needed much better ground than this to be at his best, it was worrying to see how soon he was off the bridle. Being brought down two out is unlikely to have helped his confidence either.

The other race of particular interest at Punchestown was that run over its famous banks course as it provided an excellent trial for the Cross Country Chase at the Festival. In fact, the winner of that race at Cheltenham last season, Heads Onthe Ground, finished second here, under the welter burden of 12 stone. He was giving ten pounds to the winner, Garde Champetre.

The first two home are both trained by Edna Bolger who has farmed so many of these races in recent years, and they are likely to be in the thick of the action at the Festival too. The runner up is fancied to reverse the form on revised terms and better ground in March.

The most significant performance in England was probably that of Thisthatandtother who shot to the head of the market for the Foxhunters Chase at the Festival with a win on his seasonal and hunter chase debut. The quote of 7/2 for that race looks plenty short enough, however. Although Paul Nicholl's gelding has more class than many horses who run in this sphere, he is now 12 (and so is unlikely to be improving), has had breathing problems in the recent past, has yet to prove he stays the trip of the Foxhunters and beat little or nothing of any note here. He may turn out to be one of the favourites to lay at the Cheltenham.