THE sky is sadly no longer the limit for the near veteran Reach The Clouds.

But he's still capable of occasionally hitting the heights, especially when he's whizzing round his favourite course, Plumpton.

Not that many horses act around the tiny oval-shaped Sussex venue, which over the years has built up a reputation for suiting course specialists like Reach The Clouds, who is bidding to record win number three at the track.

Normally John Upson's chaser is a sound jumper, so it came as something of a shock when he failed to complete at Stratford last time out, coming to grief at the fourth fence from home courtesy of an uncharacteristic error of judgement.

Seemingly none the worse for the mishap, Upson has waited little more than two weeks before sending Reach The Clouds (3.30) back into battle for the £6,000 Irish Post Handicap Chase.

Apart from his clear preference for the surroundings, the selection is also now quite well handicapped after being dropped 11lb since the start of last season, during which, despite several good efforts, he failed to get his head in front where it counted.

Even though Coral Island (2.00) has to defy both top-weight plus a 219-day absence, I still fancy him to lift the Tote Exacta Handicap Chase.

Coral Island won three times last term, including at the course in 2001 when he impressed with a series of economical leaps.

The case for supporting the gelding was further boosted when his shrewd handler, Robert Stronge, had a welcome winner at Ascot on Saturday via Star Protector.

It looks as if Coral Island's main rival will be Existential from Paul Nicholls' in-form yard.

On the face of it Existential won with plenty in hand at Fakenham recently, but he only beat a bunch of mainly has-beens and has much more on his plate today, especially with a whopping 14lb extra on his back.

Stormin' Norman Williamson is now based in Ireland, but that isn't to say he's not averse to nipping back over the Irish Sea when it suits, and he's answered the call of Jonjo O'Neill to partner a couple of his horses at Warwick, including Balinahinch Castle (2.50).

Having finished runner-up in an Irish point-to-point, Balinahinch Castle was bought to race in the UK and started his new career with great gusto by romping home in a staying novices' hurdle at Exeter last month.

It was only an amateur riders' race so it is hard to make a precise judgement about the value of the form. What we do know is that Balinahinch Castle showed admirable resolution when coming under pressure and apparently lacks nothing in the courage department.

* Thomas Pink Gold Cup favourite Chicuelo is thriving ahead of his big test at Cheltenham on November 16.

The six-year-old, 3-1 market leader with Coral, will be bidding to give Martin Pipe a third successive victory in the race following Lady Cricket in 2000 and Shooting Light last season.

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