Punchestowns aims to show worth Punchestowns bids to outline his Cheltenham Festival credentials when he faces a crucial test in tomorrow's Argento Chase at the Prestbury Park track. The eight-year-old is entered in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, Ryanair Chase and Ladbrokes World Hurdle but a place in the headline event would surely be his should he land this decent prize. His trainer Nicky Henderson has a major fancy for the Gold Cup in the brilliant King George VI Chase winner Long Run, but Punchestown would give the Seven Barrows handler a good second string to his bow. Punchestown did win his first two starts over fences last season only to disappoint in the RSA Chase at the 2010 Festival. His head second to Pride Of Dulcote on his seasonal reappearance in dense fog at Newbury was much more encouraging however, and his owner, Judy Wilson, believes he has improved for that run. "We were very happy at Newbury - apart from the fact we couldn't see a thing. What a day to watch racing," said Wilson. "He'd been a long time off the course and he is quite a stuffy horse, so he'd definitely have wanted that run. "The winner is a good horse and I think we were perhaps unlucky to come up against him on that particular day. "Tatenen was third and he won last weekend, so the form is good. We'll keep our fingers crossed."
