Promise Could Be Gold Cup Horse

Trainer Ferdy Murphy revealed big hopes for Another Promise after the seven-year-old became the third British-trained winner of the 2007 Irish National Hunt Festival when taking the Grade 1 Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase by three and a half lengths from Royal Shakespeare, another raider from across the Irish Sea.

'I think he?s a Gold Cup horse and there?s potentially massive improvement in him,' said Murphy. 'It was just to get experience into him that we were running over this shorter trip, he stands at 17.2 hands and is seven and has had quite an easy season. The plan today was to hunt him over the first few and then make up ground.

'He?ll go out to grass now and I?m not sure where he?ll start off next year. But he?s one for the bigger tracks whereas Aces Four (who fell in Tuesday?s Ellier Developments Hanover Quay Novice Chase) might be suited by the likes of Sandown and Ayr. I spoke to my assistant this morning and he said Aces Four was out in the field at home and had a good roll, which was some good news to start the day with.'

Royal Shakespeare was a very good hurdler, and he has become a high-class novice chaser this season. After finishing third to Twist Magic in the John Smith?s Maghull Novices? Chase at Aintree he moved up one place to finish second here.

His trainer Steve Gollings said: 'He?s been beaten by a better horse, and to be honest I?m a little disappointed, because I thought this would be his day. The ground and track were right for him.

'Having said that I?m delighted that he?s proving so good over fences. He was beaten a short-head here by Brave Inca [in 2004] over hurdles, and now he?s finished second in a Grade 1 chase so I?ve got to be pleased. He?s right up there with the best. People have slated him on occasions and I?ve made excuses for him when ground conditions have been against him, but I wouldn?t mind another one like him in the yard. That?s it for this season.'

There had also been a British success in the previous race when the Nicky Henderson-trained Punjabi held off Financial Dream to land the Grade 1 Ballymore Properties Champion 4YO Hurdle.

'He really deserved that. Katchit is just too good for him but he has upheld the form and shown that they are good horses,' said Henderson. 'He?s entitled to be the second-best four-year-old on this running, and you have to be brave to run at Cheltenham, Aintree and then here.

'I was going to put him back on the Flat but I will treat him like a hurdler and give him a break. I?m not making any decisions about next season though - I?ll wait and see what happens.'