12 year old New Mill winner of the 2006 Cheltenham Champion Chase, FERMOY claiming apprentice jockey Nathan Sweeney continues to impress and at the biggest stage of all Cheltenham races, on Saturday last he was seen at his brilliant best, on The Sawyer, which won its second big race in seven days, in the £28,500 Grade 3 Class1 Betfair Trophy, handicap chase over 2m 5 f.

Winner of the race last year, he was given an outstanding drive , where he made all the running, with Nathan showed admirable pace judgement, he kept a little from the last , where he battled on gamely, under a powerful drive, to win by less than a length, delighting trainer Bob Buckler, who indicated a choice of engagements at next month's Cheltenham festival , provided he gets his favoured soft ground. came right back to his very best, at Thurles races on Thursday last, where he won the featured Grade2 Kinloch Brae chase, valued 26 000 to the winner, for Upton Bandon trainer John Joe Murphy. Given a splendid confident drive, by Tipprerary jockey Eddie Power, who held him up in the early stages.

With eight fences to jump, he made rapid progress, and could be called the likely winner. Snowy Morning and Ruby Walsh, pressed the leader after the second last, but class prevailed and Newmill dug deep, to stay on well for a well merited three length win from the favourite.

Owned by Mary Hayes from Roscarberry (Cork), the winner had been in good form all season and deserved that win, according to his trainer who further divulged: "I did not think that he would go on that ground, my jockey Eddie was outstanding on him and used his head, when deciding to go on, because their was not much pace, which suited our horse, which settled better, he is a 12 year old now and age is against him, for any of the big races, but he is very sound and I see no reason to retire him just yet."

Murphy confirmed at Limerick races on Sunday last, that he will be prepared, for the Ryan Air chase, at next months Cheltenham Festival, where he hopes for better ground, which should suit him better.

- Pat Griffin