Newmill Team Eye Champion Chase

John Murphy feels Newmill should not be discounted from calculations in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March.

The 2006 winner is one of 25 entries for the two-mile showpiece, along with his 2007 conqueror Voy Por Ustedes and the current favourite and Tingle Creek Chase winner Twist Magic.

Newmill was only fourth last year and has run disappointingly over hurdles on two occasions this season, most recently when pulling up in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse.

Murphy said: 'Newmill will also be entered in the Champion Hurdle, but we are favouring the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

'He is fine and in great form after Fairyhouse ? obviously it wasn't his ground that day, but we were frustrated into getting a run into him and all my horses were under a bit of a cloud then. All is well again now.

'We're not quite sure where he will go (next) as I have got to figure out this weather.

'It's horrific here at the moment and we are non-committal with the way the forecast is. We'll look for some better ground and, please God, some better ground at Cheltenham is the plan.'

Alan King has entered last season's Arkle Trophy winner My Way De Solzen along with Voy Por Ustedes, while top Irish performers Mansony, Nickname, Schindlers Hunt and Justified could also be in the shake-up.

Twist Magic's trainer Paul Nicholls could also be represented by Master Minded, Andreas and Hoo La Baloo, while Jonjo O'Neill has entered the useful Don't Push It.

(C) PA Sport