On The Fringe© Photo Healy Racing
Jamie Codd is looking forward to being reunited with hugely popular On The Fringe at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The Enda Bolger-trained 12-year-old must go down as one of the greatest hunter chasers in the history of the sport having won the major prizes in that field at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown in each of the last two seasons.
On both occasions he has used this weekend's Leopardstown Inn Hunters Chase as a springboard to the spring Festivals, finishing second in 2015 but only seventh when a hot favourite 12 months ago.
With regular rider Nina Carberry currently expecting her first child, Codd is on board On The Fringe for only the third time on Sunday. having partnered him 12 months ago and when winning over Aintree's Grand National fences last April.
"It's a privilege to be able to get a chance on him again. I had a sit on him last week at the Curragh and he's definitely ready to start off," said the leading amateur.
"It was great that I got the chance to go and win on him in Aintree. I got a great kick out of it - it's not too often that you get to ride a great horse like that in our game.
"He started off here last year and got a little tired and went to Cheltenham and then Aintree and on to Punchestown.
"He's 12 now, but hopefully he'll retain enough ability to win a couple of them.
"Enda is a lot happier with him this year and says he has him a lot straighter. He's expecting a good run."
On The Fringe is one of three runners for Bolger and owner JP McManus, with Staker Wallace (Derek O'Connor) and Wish Ye Didnt (Patrick Mullins) also featuring in a 10-strong field.
Setting the standard on recent form is the Ted Walsh-trained Foxrock
Fourth in the Irish Gold Cup on this card last year having previously finished third in the Lexus Chase, the nine-year-old has won his last two starts in hunter chases, most recently seeing off the now retired Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up On His Own at Thurles last month.
A faller when well-beaten that day was Rodger Sweeney's Salsify The dual winner of the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham is back for more on Sunday, but needs to improve on his recent efforts.
Irish Gold Cup day gets under way with the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Mares Handicap Hurdle, in which John Kiely's Toe The Line is likely to be popular after following her comfortable success here three weeks ago.
The 1888 Restaurant Handicap Hurdle looks an open affair, with Gordon Elliott's Canelie an interesting contender on his handicap debut after finding Deloitte Novice Hurdle contender Chateau Conti too strong in maiden company at Cork in early January.
