Fringe has another cut at National fences On The Fringe is the star attraction in the Crabbie's Fox Hunters' Chase at Aintree on Thursday. Enda Bolger's charge won at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown last spring and having successfully defended his Foxhunter Chase crown at Prestbury Park, he now bids to repeat his triumph of 12 months ago over the Grand National fences. Jamie Codd takes over the in the saddle from the suspended Nina Carberry. Bolger said: "He arrived there on Wednesday night and he seems to have travelled over well. "It is a hindrance Nina not being available to ride him, but, at the same time, Jamie rode the horse at Leopardstown earlier in the year and has been down to my place to have a sit on him since Cheltenham. "He's a top man and I know he's really looking forward to it. "I was happy to see the winning post at Cheltenham, but he is a horse that tends to get better as the spring goes on. "The Aintree fences really light him up - he was spectacular last year - so fingers crossed he can do the same again. "I don't think I could have him any better." Pacha Du Polder, who carried double Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton to fifth place in the Foxhunter Chase, also features in a 23-strong field. With Pendleton not qualified to ride in the race, top amateur Will Biddick gets back on board on last season's runner-up. Owner Andy Stewart said: "The horse is ever so well." Patrick Mullins is looking forward to partnering Marasonnien for his father Willie. He said: "It's great to get a ride over the National fences. Good ground is a bit of an unknown as he has only run on soft or heavy ground. While he has not run much over fences, he does jump well. "He has a lot of back class as he was a Grade One winner as a novice hurdler and if I can get him into a good rhythm, which I will know after the first four fences, he has a chance. "On The Fringe had a harder race than he did at Cheltenham last year and I think it will be more difficult for him to win the race this year." Recent Clonmel winner Bright New Dawn heads 13 runners set to go to post for the Betfred Red Rum Handicap Chase. The two-mile contest also includes Grand Annual one-two Solar Impulse and Dandridge. The Goffs Nickel Coin Mares´ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race brings day one to a close and t he Mullins-trained Augusta Kate goes back against her own sex after finishing seventh in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. Mullins jnr said: "They have dropped the weight, so unfortunately I can't ride her. Ruby (Walsh) takes the ride. "I thought it was a fantastic run against the geldings at Cheltenham and that run is the benchmark back in the mares' race. "Warren Greatrex has good a very good mare in there (La Bague Au Roi) and she beat two of our ones quite easily at Huntingdon, but we think this mare is much better than the two she faced at Huntingdon."
