The step up in trip to 2m 5f can see Cooldine enhance his RSA Chase claims by taking the Dr PJ Moriarty Novices’ Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Willie Mullins’ classy seven-year-old was a crack hurdler last season, winning five on the bounce at trips up to 2m 6f, (he was even considered good enough for an attempt on the Punchestown Stayers’ Hurdle, finishing a creditable fourth to Blazing Bailey) and he made mincemeat of 15 rivals on his chasing debut at Thurles back in November.

Mullins didn’t hesitate in upping him to Grade 1 company for the Durkan New Homes Novices’ Chase at Leopardstown run over 2m for his next start, but a race run at barely a canter in the early stages meant he was too keen to get on with proceedings, and was unable to deliver a telling blow as Follow The Plan and Tatenen fough out the finish.

Third that day was no disgrace though, and now up in trip to his optimum distance in a contest where there should be some pace on in the early stages, you have to fancy Cooldine to step up markedly on that display. His jumping looks more than competent, and the likely testing ground will hold no fears whatsoever.

Of the likely opposition Trafford Lad somehow contrived to get himself beaten by 25/1 rag Casey Jones at Leopardstown over 3m at the Christmas meeting, and will certainly be meeting his biggest test yet in the shape of Cooldine.

He looked seriously good in the Drinmore when beating Forpadydeplasterer at Fairyhouse the time before, but of the pair Cooldine has to get the vote.

Forpadydeplasterer may also re-oppose, but to my mind although he’s a sound jumper who should improve on what he’s shown so far over the larger obstacles, 2m 5f may be his boundary in terms of stamina.

He ran a fine race in defeat to another Mullins horse Golden Silver at Leopardstown last time, but he looks every inch an Arkle type for me and may have to settle for place money here.

Currently trading at 5/2 on Betfair this one can go the way of Cooldine.

The feature of Sunday’s Leopardstown card is the Hennessy Gold Cup, a race in which it’s very hard to escape the conclusion that Neptune Collonges should run out a comfortable winner.

Save for making a hash of the second last in the Lexus Chase run over course and distance here in December I think Neptune Collonges would have beaten Exotic Dancer, and so long as that tumble hasn’t left any psychological scars, last seasons’s Punchestown Gold Cup winner can resume the winning thread.

For anyone concerned by the likely heavy ground don’t forget Neptune Collonges has won six times on ground officially termed as heavy earlier in his career.

On official ratings he’s 10lb clear of his nearest rival, with the Listener on a perch of 164.

The Listener also eneded up on the deck in the Lexus, making it no further than the second fence, and at the age of 10 I wonder if the fire burns quite as brightly as it did a couple of seasons back.     �

Notre Pere did this column a huge favour by winning the Welsh National at 16/1, and he’ll absolutely love the ground, but he has more than a stone to find on official figures, and shouldn’t have the class to trouble the favourite.

The 10/11 with Victor Chandler might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’ll take a good one to beat him.

Good luck!