BY his usual fine standards, it has been a slightly quiet winter period on the track for Colm Murphy with just a small number of runners, but victory in the €100,000 Bar One Racing Leinster National Handicap Chase (4.37) at Naas tomorrow could signal the start of a bright spring for the shrewd trainer.

His smart staying handicap chaser Macs Charm must have strong claims in Naas’ feature event, for all that the extended-three-mile contest is an open affair.

After a disappointing effort in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, it was encouraging to see him show much more spark last time in the Goffs Thyestes Chase at Gowran when catching the eye in fifth.

The easy-ground specialist has been highly progressive in recent seasons and is out to provide Murphy with a seasonal highlight, having been unfortunate to be without his stable star Impervious for the entire campaign due to injury.

Murphy told The Irish Field: “He has entries for next week at Cheltenham but we decided to head to Naas instead.

“I thought he ran well in the Thyestes last time. He probably just missed a fence at the wrong time, if anything, but he kept going.

“I think the track and trip at Naas should suit him well. Looking at how the weather has been, you’d hope for the ease in the ground to be in his favour.”

Conditions are bound to be testing at the Co Kildare track, with the going yesterday morning described as soft on the hurdle course and soft, soft to heavy in places on the chase course. Approximately 10mm to 12mm of rain is forecast prior to the fixture.