Wins Now Looks To Atone

Wins Now will attempt to erase the memory of a rather unfortunate debut over fences in Ireland this weekend.

Niall Madden's promising customer fell at the last when fighting out the finish at Leopardstown over Christmas before his rider Tony McCoy remounted to eventually take eighth.

Luck has not really been on Wins Now's side, as he made a hash of the final flight in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle last spring when giving Tidal Bay a battle.

Madden has entered the gelding in the Clairefontaine-Co. Kildare Beginners Chase at Punchestown on Saturday and also in Sunday's P.B.S. Beginners Chase at Leopardstown.

'He'll run somewhere at the weekend, but we haven't decided where ? that's up to JP (McManus, owner),' Madden explained.

'He obviously did not have the ideal start over fences but he jumped beautifully throughout the race. It was just one of those things and he was slightly hampered by the other horse.

'We popped him over some fences the other day and it's all going well.'

A handful of bookmakers are offering 20-1 about Wins Now for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy and Madden added: 'I'd say that was the race for him, but the weekend will tell us more.'

(C) PA Sport