PAT HEALY: Brand Ambassador Pat Healy shares his perspective on the foggy conditions at Punchestown last weekend and talks up Chacun Pour Soi’s Cheltenham chances.

Foggy Punchestown

I was at Punchestown on Sunday to witness first-hand the fog that covered the track. It was obviously unfortunate, but at least we got the big race, the John Durkan, so it wasn’t the end of the world. I was photographing the horses as they went to the start for the John Durkan and I could see it getting visibly worse and worse. I could see the last fence as I walked onto the racecourse but by the time the horses had gone by me, I couldn’t see it. Fair play to the jockeys for getting the race done and unfortunately it’s just one of those things that sometimes happens which none of us can do anything about.

Skyace

It was great to see Skyace win as she did in the mares’ novice hurdle on the same card. It’s well known she only cost 600 euros and is owned by the Birdinthehand Syndicate – five guys who must be having an amazing time with her. It’s a fantastic story to see how much she’s progressed this year and I’m quite surprised she went off 28/1 on Sunday considering she beat a well-fancied Gordon Elliott runner at Down Royal the time before. She’s going to have a break now and Shark Hanlon is going to aim her for Cheltenham. She’s clearly got ability and I’m sure she’ll give her owners plenty more big days in the future.

Chacun Pour Soi

It was hard not to be impressed by Chacun Pour Soi at Cork on Sunday. It’s no secret the regard he’s held in at Willie Mullins’ and he’s the one I believe they think is the best in the yard, so it will be interesting to see where he goes now. He’s got to be a strong contender for the Champion Chase and providing he stays in one piece, I’m sure he’ll be a strong contender in March.

Sandown thoughts

I was very impressed with Harry Skelton in both the Tingle Creek and Henry VIII at Sandown. Allmankind (pictured), in particular, doesn’t look the easiest of rides and isn’t perhaps the most fluent of jumpers, so to get the jumps he got out of him over the railway fences was a real credit to Harry. He was absolutely brilliant on him and showed what a top jockey he is. To ride two Grade 1s on the same day is no mean feat, so I tip my hat to him.

Racing in Hong Kong

I’ll be keeping an eye on Sha Tin on Sunday where there is plenty of Irish interest with Aidan O’Brien having 3 runners over in Hong Kong. Magical, Order Of Australia and Mogul all have leading claims of adding to the 14 Group 1s Aidan has already won this season and it will be fascinating to see how they get on over there. It’s a great day’s racing and I’m sure he’ll be hopeful of adding to his already impressive haul.

On a separate note, I’m not sure Hollie Doyle’s season could have got any better, but it has with her first winner in Hong Kong during the International Jockeys’ Challenge on Wednesday. She really is the talk of the town in racing at the moment and deserves all the plaudits she’s getting because she’s a credit to the sport.