COMEONARCHIE made a highly encouraging return at Fairyhouse on Monday and is one to keep a close eye on over the weeks ahead, especially if he turns up at Punchestown’s Festive Treat Day on December 8th, writes Andy Stephens.

The nine-year-old was having his first run for seven months in the three-mile handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse and was also minus his usual cheekpieces.

However, he stuck willingly to his task to split Chanceitlucky and Head For Home. His final furlong of 14.25sec was best of the whole field.

Comeonarchie finished less than four lengths behind the winner and, had he jumped better, might well have won.

He got a Jump Index score of 6.4 out of 10, losing 3.84 lengths with his leaping. By contrast, Chanceitlucky gained 5.44.

Comeonarchie won the three-mile handicap hurdle run at Punchestown in early December last year, having been runner-up in a division of the same race 12 months earlier. It seems sure to have again been inked into his calendar by owner-trainer Finbarr Hand.

A day earlier, The Mediator, trained by Gordon Elliott, had caught the eye when fourth in the Lady Riders’ Handicap at the Curragh over 12 furlongs.

He’s not one of the more prolific performers at Cullentra House, but did nothing wrong on this occasion and, if the last four furlongs had been individual races, he would have finished 1123. His toil in the last half mile took him from 10th to fourth.