Racing:Colm Murphy will be hoping for a change of fortune for Zaarito in tomorrow's Growise Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival. The talented eight-year-old has fallen on four of his seven starts over fences and had arguably been travelling like a winner in two Grade One races before tipping up.
Zaarito will be racing over three miles for the first time in Tuesday’s heat, which has attracted eight runners. Taking him on is Willie Mullins’ The Midnight Club, who was noted staying on in taking fashion to finish third in the Jewson at Cheltenham.
Mullins also runs Kempes, who had looked progressive before being pulled up in the Powers Gold Cup last time out. Tony Martin drops Saddlers Storm back into novice company after he unseated his rider in the Irish National, when still in contention.
Whatuthink finished third at Fairyhouse and is obviously suited by a test of stamina. Jadanli took advantage of Zaarito’s latest spill in the Powers Gold Cup and will look to give Paul John Gilligan another big win.
Dessie Hughes’ Lenabane and the Mouse Morris-trained China Rock complete the competitive field.
Nicky Henderson's General Miller, meanwhile, will look to follow up his Aintree victory in tomorrow's Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.
A first-flight casualty in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, won by Menorah, he left connections wondering what might have been when beating Philip Hobbs’ charge at Aintree.
Another overseas raider is Charlie McBride’s Rollwiththepunches, second to another smart Hobbs novice, Captain Chris, on his last start at Kempton. Willie Mullins runs Flat Out, fifth in the Supreme, and Blackstairmountain, who disappointed at Cheltenham but ran much better when only worn down close home by Luska Lad at Fairyhouse.
Henry de Bromhead lets the exciting Loosen My Load take his chance, while Sweeps Hill, a classy bumper performer last term, has his first run of the calendar year.
Tom Mullins relies upon Some Slam, winner of a Naas maiden hurdle on his last start. The Gordon Elliott-trained Grey Soldier, a disappointment in the Dovecote at Kempton, Eddie Harty’s Baron De’l and Tilabay complete the line-up.