Nina Carberry has to sit out the weekend action with a back injury so Jamie Codd steps in for the Saturday ride on the top hunter chaser On The Fringe.
The Enda Bolger-trained star makes his first start since completing a unique Cheltenham-Liverpool-Punchestown festival hat-trick last season in the Leopardstown Inn Hunters Chase and it will On The Fringe's fifth time to tackle a race with its own significant Cheltenham pedigree.
His old rival Salsify, twice a Cheltenham Foxhunters hero, and winner of this race in 2012 and 2013, also lines up for a contest On The Fringe won in 2011 and in which he’s been runner up twice and third in 2012.
Bolger, who saddles Gilgamboa in the Irish Gold Cup 35 minutes earlier, reports he expects On The Fringe to improve for the run and soft ground will hardly be ideal either. In the circumstances the race-fit, and younger, Two Rockers, could be a better betting option.
Handicap effort
Barry Geraghty
has chosen to ride Gilgamboa over the defending Gold Cup champion, Carlingford Lough, and Bolger expects the Grade One winner to step up for the experience of his Paddy Power handicap effort at Christmas.
“That race really made a man of him, being in the middle of 16 or 17 horses for most of the race. Obviously this is a very hot race, but he stays well and he handles soft ground,” he said.
Gitane Du Berlais should be tough to beat in Sunday's Listed feature at Naas and Ruby Walsh can also score in the opening maiden hurdle on the jumping newcomer Babbling Stream.
