Windermere on course for RSA

All roads now lead to the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for Lord Windermere after his near-miss in the Dr PJ Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown on Saturday.

The seven-year-old is trained by Jim Culloty, who is famous for winning three Gold Cups aboard Henrietta Knight's Best Mate.

Culloty's string is steadily growing in numbers but there is no doubting that Lord Windermere is his stable star and there will be worse 20-1 chances at the big jamboree in Prestbury Park.

Saturday was the first time he had finished out of the first two over fences, but he was still only half a length behind the much-heralded Boston Bob.

Culloty is convinced that his charge will benefit from a step up in trip and the chance to race on a decent surface.

"He's come out of his race very well and we're preparing him for Cheltenham now," said Culloty.

"He made a very bad mistake early on, he literally broke a fence, and you don't tend to win Grade Ones after doing that so to get so close was a great effort.

"He's never run a bad race over fences yet and we're waiting to step him up in trip on some nice ground.

"To say he was half a length behind Boston Bob, and he's one of the favourites, must give us a little chance. Although the price our lad is might have something to do with the fact he's trained by Jim Culloty and not Willie Mullins!"