Bolger lines up formidable cross-country team

Enda Bolger is assembling a strong team in a bid to further enhance his great record in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, and is likely to have at least three runners in the stamina test next month.

Garde Champetre provided the Co. Limerick trainer with his third win in the past four years last March following on from the victories of Spot Thedifference and Heads Onthe Ground.

The French-bred ten-year-old has been absent since beating stablemate L'Ami over the same unique 3m5f track at Cheltenham in December, and the pair are on course to meet again next month.

'We'll have him and L'Ami plus Drombeag possibly, so it's straight to Cheltenham now,' said Bolger.

'Garde Champetre likes to be fresh so I'm not too pushed about that. With him the idea was not to run him again before Cheltenham. He loves it and all roads lead there at the moment.'

Bolger was delighted to see L'Ami record his first win under rules for four years at Punchestown yesterday, and reports the JP McManus-owned gelding on course for Cheltenham.

'I was delighted to see him get his head in front and get his confidence back. He'd have to do that against those horses but it was nice to get him to win again and enjoy the thing.'

'Hopefully he'll head for the cross-country at Cheltenham now, and we'll see what happens after that whether he'll go for the Grand National.'

'He's been entered for that as a precaution. He's been round there a couple of times and he hasn't been lucky. The cross-country at Cheltenham is his main aim.'