Bolger trio in Pardubicka

Enda Bolger will be three-handed in Sunday's Velka Pardubicka as the king of the cross-country races seeks a first in the world-famous contest at Pardubice in the Czech Republic.

Bolger has never won the race but sends over Freneys Well, Mount Sion and Zest For Life for his latest attempt, enlisting Sam Waley-Cohen for the ride on the latter.

The fearless amateur, who won the 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Long Run, has a remarkable record over the Grand National fences and has finished fourth and second aboard Oscar Time in the main event as well as picking up both the Topham and the Fox Hunters.

He also managed a place in last year's Maryland Hunt Cup, a daunting timber race in America, and Zest For Life will be his mount in the four-and-a-quarter-mile marathon over a variety of obstacles and across a ploughed field.

Zest For Life won over the banks at the last Punchestown Festival, as well as being short-headed by Sizing Australia later in the week.

Waley-Cohen said: "I'm looking forward to it, it has always been an ambition of mine to ride in the Pardubicka. I've known Enda a long time, and I've even been invited along to one of his infamous cross-country schooling sessions.

"He called me up and asked me to ride, so I agreed. The horse has been competitive in cross-country races at Punchestown. It's a long journey to Pardubice from Ireland, and I don't think he would be going if it wasn't worth it."

The Pardubicka is one of the few races of its type to still elude Bolger, although the trainer's legendary cross-country runner Risk Of Thunder did fill the runner-up spot in 1999. The County Limerick handler has no great expectations for this year's trio.

Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Bolger said: "I'm here in Prague now and the track is in beautiful shape, so we're looking forward to it. They're probably not the best horses I've ever brought here, but I think they all have their individual chances of being placed and they've all travelled well.

"Risk Of Thunder was probably the best cross-country horse I ever trained and he couldn't win it. The horses I'm bringing this year aren't that class, but they're good handicappers and I think the race will suit them. Anything can happen, but last year's winner (Orphee Des Blins) will be very hard to beat. He won very easily last year."

Richie McLernon takes the ride on Mount Sion, while Martin Ferris partners the 13-year-old Freneys Well.

A field of 21 are set to go to post, with last year's winner Orphee Des Blins once again ridden by Jan Faltejsek. The jockey spent some time riding in England and is best known to British racegoers for his association with the George Charlton-trained Knockara Beau.