Declan's Irish Pointers at it again

Subscribers to Christmas Special will be aware that expert Declan Phelan highlighted six Irish pointers who raced in the Autumn and had subsequently been bought to race under Rules. Three of those, namely Danny Kirwan (13/8), Sometime Soon (2/1) and Whisperinthebreeze (6/4) won over the weekend.

The first named is now trained by Paul Nicholls and he ran out a two lengths winner of the concluding bumper at Kempton yesterday. By the same sire as Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Might Bite, Scorpion, he was switched by Sam Twiston-Davies turning for home before showing a good turn of foot to beat previous winner Pym. The former champion trainer considers Danny Kirwan a hugely exciting novice hurdle prospect for next season, although he may have another run in a bumper before being put away for the summer. I thought the runner-up ran a sound race conceding seven pounds to the winner and I think it would have been closer had Nicky Henderson's charge enjoyed a clearer passage. Positioned on the far rail, Nico De Boinville had to sit and suffer behind horses until the rail came away in the home straight. In the meantime, Twiston-Davies was pulling his mount around runners and getting a much smoother run through. Either way, the pair look smart long-term prospects.

My fancy for the Betdaq Handicap Chase at the same track jumped like a horse who has lost his confidence over fences. The seven year old made mistakes early on and was soon shuffled towards the back of the pack. He made a mid race move and had a chance before the fifth last but his effort soon petered out. It was a poor effort.