ONCE again, the two-mile-six-furlong handicap chase run at Punchestown on John Durkan Chase day could be a race to note. Last year, the winner Grand Jesture, after disappointing in the Paddy Power Chase on his next run, ran a cracker on his subsequent run to finish second in the Ultima Solutions Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, while third-placed Foxrock finished second in the Paddy Power on his next run, then won the BoyleSports Handicap Chase back at Leopardstown in January, and followed up by running a cracker to finish a close-up second to Carlingford Lough in the Hennessy Gold Cup.

This year, like last year, the winner and the third could again be the two horses to take out of the race.

The winner, Sumos Novios, travelled like a good horse throughout. Racing for the first time since February, Liam Burke’s horse was kept wide throughout by Robbie Power, but he still won with more than the four-and-a-half-length winning margin in hand from the talented Empire Of Dirt.

The handicapper has raised him by 8lb to a mark of 132, but he has enough potential, and he won with enough in hand, to take that type of hike in his stride. This was just his fourth chase and his fifth run under rules - he has never raced over hurdles - and he has bundles of scope, as long as he can remain sound. He is obviously a fragile type. He will be of interest now if he takes his chance in the Paddy Power Chase, a race for which he is currently priced up at 16/1.

Sizing Gold will also be of interest wherever he goes next. Henry de Bromhead’s horse was racing for the first time since May 2014, but he jumped and travelled well for Jonathan Burke, the winning trainer’s son, keeping on well to take third place. He should be better with this run under his belt, and a 2lb hike brings him up to a mark of just 135, which is still lower than his rating as a novice. He has raced just five times over fences, and he is another who can progress from Sunday’s run.