All set for a Flyer at Punchestown Moscow Flyer will have his first run since his thrilling Tingle Creek success in the Grade 3 Byrne Group Plc Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown on Sunday. The 2003 Champion Chase winner will be using this €40,000 race as his final preparation for Cheltenham in just seven weeks time and is sure to add spice to a very competitive card.Moscow Flyer, likely to start a 6/1 on shot will find his biggest opposition in the form of the Michael Hourigan trained Hi Cloy who was a very smart novice chaser last season. Only narrowly beaten by Lord Sam in the Ellier Developments Novice Chase at the Punchestown festival last April, Hi Cloy could make this contest into much more than a stroll in the park for Moscow Flyer. Also among the seven acceptors for this Grade 3 chase are talented chasers Glenelly Gale and Say Again. The feature race of the day, the Byrne Group Plc Novice Hurdle promises to be a thrilling contest and could be the deciding factor for many hoping to have a tilt at Cheltenham. Justified, trained by Dusty Sheehy, who will surely start favourite for this €55,000 contest has already earned himself a quote for the Royal & Sun Alliance Hurdle following an impressive win at Punchestown last December. Akshar and Blazing Liss, both winners at Leopardstown at Christmas are two more very talented individuals most likely to threaten Justified's claims on the race. Supporting races on a very exciting card include The Grand National Trial for which Lincam and Lanmire Glen look certain to provide a thriller.Looking forward to Sunday's racing, Dick O´Sullivan, manager of Punchestown said 'Sunday's card is a cracker and it is a real pleasure to have Moscow Flyer here having his prep run before the big one in March. This race along with the Byrne Group Plc Novice Hurdle and supporting card will provide many clues as to what we can expect from the Irish in Cheltenham. We are hoping that this along with our Free Admission for Under 25's will ensure a big crowd and great buzz here on Sunday.'The first race will be at 1.30 and the going is officially heavy.
