Newmill set for Down Royal Newmill, the 2006 Champion Chase hero, could return to the top table at Down Royal on November 7th. The popular veteran appeared rejuvenated earlier this month at Cork, where he finished a gutsy second in a valuable handicap. John Murphy is now considering running the 11-year-old in the three-mile JNwine.com Champion Chase, in which he could go head to head with Kauto Star. If Murphy ducks that daunting prospect, Newmill is likely to report for duty 24 hours later in the two-mile Fortria Chase at Navan. "He ran a cracking race at Cork and has come out of it really well," said the County Cork handler. "We are toying with the idea of stepping him up in trip, but he'll have an entry in the Navan race. "There's also the Champion Chase to consider, but we'll probably make a decision next week. "We won't be running him on heavy ground this year, though. He's a very sound horse so there's no particular reason to retire him. "He's still very enthusiastic."
