IT WAS fantastic to get a winner at Punchestown last week with Thanksforthehelp winning the opening contest on Wednesday’s card under jockey Gavin Brouder. American Sniper finished sixth in the same race under Ben Bromley, not beaten very far and that was a good run.

Thanksforthehelp has always shown us a lot at home but it has not always transferred to the racecourse as he is not the easiest horse to train with a few little niggles along the way. The handicapper had given him a chance, however, and despite looking in trouble rounding the home bend he stayed on strongly on the run in to win going away. It is always good to get a winner for the famous green and gold hoops and an even better feeling to do it in Ireland.

The new season got underway at Uttoxeter and Hexham on Saturday and the coming weeks are very busy with jumps fixtures. Our first runners of this week come on Tuesday with Chemical Warfare and Nini Star both in action at different meetings.

Chemical Warfare travels to Fakenham to run in the Norfolk National at 4.50pm, a race we have done well in in the past and Duc De Beauchene winning it two years ago for Fergus Gillard. Chemical Warfare was a star last season, winning eight races and while he starts the new season from a career high mark and carries top weight in this and it looks a perfect race for him to continue his progression with some nice prize money on offer. Jack Tudor rides.

Nini Star runs in the maiden hurdle at Worcester on Tuesday evening with Harry Cobden in the saddle. She has just the one hurdle run for us at Hereford where she was disappointing but we can put a line through that and hope she can show her true colours this time. She has a good level of flat ability and has schooled well at home.

Later in the week, Bashful Boy will make his reappearance from a winter holiday on the flat at Chester. He is entered in the Chester Cup and while unlikely to make the cut for the race itself he qualifies for the Plate ‘consolation race’, for those horses balloted out of the Cup, which still has some very nice prize money up for grabs. He was last seen in action in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in October where he ran well to be ninth, not beaten that far. While this will also be very competitive, he is in good form at home and is now below his last winning mark on the flat, so hopefully he can put in a big run.

Haydock hosts its traditional mixed meeting this Saturday which includes the Swinton hurdle and a valuable staying contest as well. American Sniper and Thanksforthehelp have entries in this and we will see what the ground is like later in the week before making any firm plans.

This weekend the local point to points are at Holnicote on Saturday and Upcott Cross on Sunday. Rouban has an entry on Sunday and could make his British pointing debut in the restricted race. He is an Irish point-to-point winner and we thought it would be great to get him some further experience in this field over here.

Dave Pipe column as told to Richard Walsh