Owner J.P. McManus and banks' course specialist Enda Bolger combined for a 1-2-3 in the opening P.P.Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase at Punchestown today, with Auvergnat ultimately winning by a short-head for jockey Donie McInerney.

Eight year old Auvergnat was today following up last year's win in the race and while he looked likely to score a comfortable success jumping the final flight, runner-up Josies Orders rallied well on the run-in to get to within a short head of the winner at the line.

McManus' Blue Templar stayed on late to be third in a 'red cap-white cap-yellow cap' 1-2-3 for the Bolger yard.

Bolger later reported “that's out little lot done now before Cheltenham. Whether our lads are good enough to handle the likes of Cause Of Causes, I don't think so, but we don't know what will turn up - Auvergnat is still relatively young as well.

“There is nothing we can do, only win, so I'm happy with that.

“Cheltenham is the plan for the first two and Cantlow (a non-runner from today's race) also - Cantlow just gave a little cough this morning and we had him primed for his run. He'll go straight to Cheltenham and he loves it there and the drier ground suits him too.

“We're happy, it's job done, and we'll freshen them up now and maybe have a couple of days to the seaside and things.”

Paddy Power bookmaker later left Auvergnat unchanged at 8/1 (NRNB) for the Cross-Country Chase at Cheltenham.

Quotes from Gary Carson