CHARLIE BROOKS'S successful raid with Couldn't Be Better on the Burger King Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park punctured any undue optimism amongst Irish fans that our handicap chasers would be expected to see off any outside challenge on their home territory.

He carried top weight of 12 stone and gave two stone and a beating to Corymandel. At Punchestown tomorrow, it is the turn of Kim Bailey to challenge with another 12 stone top of the handicap. His enthusiasm for getting Master Oats across, even after the defection of his travelling companion, does not bode well for the fate of the prize money attaching to the Ericsson GSM Grand National Trial Handicap.

The last time we saw Master Oats in action in Ireland he was runner up to Imperial Call in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown and on that occasion Master Oats was the horse that served notice on us all that Imperial Call was a new star.

So often in the past we have seen Irish handicappers thwarted in England by an ex compatriot. It would therefore be sweet indeed if Sue Bramall should bring about the downfall of Master Oats with Antonin whom she used to train in Yorkshire prior to moving her stable to Borleigh Manor in Co Wexford.

Antonin showed his appreciation for his new surroundings with a runaway win from Belvederian at Wexford in October. Afterwards he was fifth to New Co in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown when shouldering 11-7 and ran a better race than his eventual losing margin of 15 lengths would indicate. A former Irish Grand National winner Son Of War, with Richard Dunwoody riding him for the first time, looks best of the others.

This Punchestown fixture is regarded by most trainers as their final testing ground for Cheltenham and never more so than when an early Easter forces Cheltenham back by a week.

Ted Walsh will be hoping that Commanche Court will justify his participation in the Triumph Hurdle. Commanche Court gave Dermot Desmond the perfect start to racehorse ownership with a stylish two length win from Hard News on his jumping debut at Leopardstown.

Dr Bones was another Leopardstown winner but Commanche Court's flat run suggests that this French import should be too good for Dr Bones.

Toast The Spreece is another on the Cheltenham trail and he has improved with every race. To give an easy Gowran Park winner Toureen Gale 21lb and a beating in a Leopardstown handicap was smart and he rates preference for a nap hand in the Emerald Bloodstock INH Novice Hurdle Series over Bukhari.