Turf Talk: On The Fringe bidding to bounce back after Festival setback

Enda Bolger is hoping a return to the Aintree fences will help On The Fringe bounce back to winning form after he was beaten at Cheltenham last week.
On The Fringe ridden by jockey Jamie Codd (left). PIC: PAOn The Fringe ridden by jockey Jamie Codd (left). PIC: PA
On The Fringe ridden by jockey Jamie Codd (left). PIC: PA

The pre-eminent hunter chaser of his day was looking to win at the Festival for the third successive year but could only stay on into fourth behind Pacha Du Polder.

He has also won Aintree’s Randox Health Foxhunters’ Chase for the past two seasons and his trainer is looking forward to him returning to Merseyside, for which he is one of 38 entries.

“All going well he’ll be at Aintree,” said Bolger.

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“He came back safe and sound which is the main thing, maybe the ground was a little quick for him at Cheltenham. By the time of the race it had even quickened up from when I walked it in the morning, but we’re only looking forwards now, not back.

“He does love Aintree, he seems to come alive over those fences so hopefully that is in our favour.

“He had a lot of ground to make up at Cheltenham and just stayed on one-paced, but at Aintree he seems to be able to go with them early even though it’s a shorter trip.”

Cheltenham winner Pacha Du Polder will aim to follow up for Paul Nicholls while Balnaslow, who was prominent throughout, is another in the mix.

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Persian Snow, Grand Vision, Big Fella Thanks and Black Thunder are other notable entries.

n Mags Mullins is unsure as to whether Champion Bumper runner-up Debuchet will run again this season.

Mullins said: “He came back in great form – he seems in mighty order. You’ve never won until you’ve crossed the line, especially in Cheltenham with that hill to climb. It would have been nice to win, but he ran a great race and the main thing is he’s come home in one piece.

“I don’t know whether we’ll run him again (this season).”

SOBOT’S SELECTIONS

BANGOR: 1.40 Mr Big Shot, 2.15 Cirano De Sivola, 2.50 Goal, 3.25 Magic Money, 4.00 Don’t Hang About, 4.35 Some Kinda Lama, 5.10 Monar Rose.

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KELSO: 2.05 Dinsdale, 2.40 Runswick Royal, 3.15 Baywing, 3.50 Marlee Massie, 4.25 Clondaw Draft, 5.00 Rhymers Stone, 5.35 Knocklong.

LINGFIELD: 2.00 Hippocampus, 2.35 Culloden, 3.10 WINTERLUDE (NAP), 3.45 Start Seven (next best), 4.20 Verne Castle, 4.55 Gnaad, 5.30 Synodic.

NEWBURY: 1.50 Brandon Hill, 2.25 Ericht, 3.00 Grand Turina, 3.35 Don Bersy, 4.10 Red Indian, 4.45 Larry, 5.20 Mr Fitzroy.

STRATFORD: 2.20 Moon Arrow, 2.55 Gambol, 3.30 Renard, 4.05 Indian Native, 4.40 Mr Cardle, 5.15 One For Billy.

WOLVERHAMPTON: 5.45 Athassel, 6.15 Stragar, 6.45 Jack Blane, 7.15 Simply Me, 7.45 Mr Globetrotter, 8.15 Rosealee, 8.45 Clergyman, 9.15 Blastofmagic.