Past star bid in the balance

Michael O’Brien has concerns about the ground at Punchestown and could yet pull Forget The Past from Wednesday’s Star “Best For Racing Coverage” Chase.

The race, newly promoted to Grade Three status, has been landed by War Of Attrition for the past two years but does not boast quite such a star this time around.

However, the useful Central House is still among the five-strong field and while Forget The Past has fallen a little short in the very highest company, he still has six Graded wins to his name.

O’Brien nominated the gelding’s first big target as the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal on November 3 – and would prefer to have him race-fit.

“He’s doing fine but is probably going to want the run tomorrow,” warned the Naas trainer.

“The ground is the worry as it is quite fast there. Punchestown is an up and down track and they have not had a lot of rain.

“So if it was really fast we might have to scratch him.

“He has run well fresh but he could do with the run before the race in the north. But we still don’t want to mess him up.”

Top two-miler Central House will be stepping up from his usual trip, while the small field is completed by Knight Legend, Steel Band and Anothercoppercoast.