Punchestown ReportPunters were given another hard lesson in the perils of following out-of-form trainers as hot favourite War Of Attrition finished well-beaten behind Hi Cloy in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown yesterday.

Mouse Morris became the latest handler to admit all is not well within his stable after seeing his charge, so impressive in his two victories earlier this season, trail home fifth in the Grade One contest.

After Morris' two earlier runners had both run badly, the bookmakers had already seen the signs. Having opened at 8 to 13, on-course layers were offering 4 to 5 by the off and even-money after just a handful of fences about the six-year-old.

And in truth War of Attrition never looked at any stage as if he would extend his winning run, being uncharacteristically nudged along fully a mile from the finish by Conor O'Dwyer.

But the race still managed to produce a thrilling finish as rising star Andrew McNamara produced 7 to 1 chance Hi Cloy to lead 50 yards out and defeat the ultra-game Jim by a head.

Restricted to just two appearances last season through injury, Hi Cloy is a top-class performer at trips short of three miles, as he showed when outspeeding Kicking King to win over two and a half miles at Fairyhouse last April.

Winning trainer Michael Hourigan said: "I thought he would win today - I was pretty confident. He hasn't always been an easy horse to train, but he has certainly repaid us with this victory."

Hi Cloy now faces a clash with Moscow Flyer in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting. "We will go to Leopardstown now for the race over two miles and a furlong," added Hourigan.

McNamara, enjoying the biggest success of his fledgling career, said: "Michael told me not to hit the front until just before the last. He told me to go round the inside and a gap opened up on the home turn. But I was worried we would get there too soon, so I switched him wide.

"He has taken a little bit of stick as being a bridle horse in his time, but he really picked up for me when I got after him and he did the job well."

Cashmans introduced the winner at 14 to 1 into their betting for the Ryanair Chase, the two-and-a-half-mile championship chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

War of Attrition, on the other hand, was removed from the betting for that race. And for Morris the gelding's poor showing came at the end of an already-difficult day. "I thought we might be in trouble after my horse in the second race (The Fairhill Boy) was pulled up, because he will gallop forever," said the trainer.

"Coming here today I didn't think we had a problem but now it looks like we do. Conor said he just ran flat all the way."

After consulting with the veterinary officer, Morris later added: "His scope is clean, but he is blowing very hard which is often the sign of a lung infection - we'll have to see how he is."

Michael O'Brien said he too feared his stable were under a cloud after sending out Forget The Past to finish third. "They just seem to be coming there and then stopping," he said. "It is very frustrating."

O'Brien did at least have the consolation of a winner later on the card when Doctor Linton took the Ryan's Event Cleaners Novice Chase, the stable's first victory for more than two months.

Having gained his biggest career success aboard Hi Cloy, McNamara was in fact completing a double after being awarded the opening INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle aboard Mounthenry.

McNamara's mount, who was beaten a neck into second by Blueberry Boy, was promoted in the stewards' room having been the sufferer in minor interference running to the last.

But with Blueberry Boy's trainer Paul Stafford planning to appeal, the victory may yet be quashed.

Greystoke-based Nicky Richards made a rare appearance in Ireland when sending out Knockara Luck to trounce her 12 rivals in the bumper.