Veteran Cheltenham hero On The Fringe 'in great form at home'

Evergreen and still eager to impress. On The Fringe is now well into his teens but Enda Bolger believes the 14-year-old, who is a double Cheltenham Festival winner, still retains a lot of his old ability ahead of his return to the racetrack in the BoyleSports Joseph R.O'Reilly Hunters Chase (5.15) at Fairyhouse.

On The Fringe was a 17-length winner of the Foxhunter at Cheltenham in 2015 and retained his crown the following year. On both occasions he was ridden by Nina Carberry.

Carberry has retired but On The Fringe is still going strong and was a winner on his last visit to the track, easing to a six-length win at Listowel in June. He returned to action in a point-to-point at Rathcannon earlier this month and showed he still had what it takes by beating Sea Light by a neck.

Aine O'Connor has been on board for both of those wins but a spill on Sunday has prevented her from keeping the partnership intact, so Derek O'Connor takes over. Not a bad replacement!

"It is an awful pity for Aine [O'Connor] that she cannot take the ride as she has got on great with him," Bolger said.

He added: "On The Fringe seems in great form at home and I've been delighted with him. He's showing me there's plenty of life left in him yet. He'll love the ground and we're hoping for a good run."

Among On The Fringe's nine rivals is Road To Riches, third to Coneygree in the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup when in the care of Noel Meade. He has since been bought by David Maxwell and arrives after a fine effort in the Foxhunters' at Aintree where he was a creditable third to Top Wood.

There is a winner's cheque for €32,450 on offer in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final (4.10) and Joseph O'Brien is responsible for five of the 25 runners.

Joseph O'Brien: 'It's a very good prize, so we're running a few'Credit: Caroline Norris

O'Brien said: "It's a very good prize, so we're running a few. Choungaya was unlucky when falling at the last at Punchestown last time. Denwork and The Gunner Murphy are running in a handicap for the first time and will appreciate the step up in trip. Thermistocles ran well in the Pertemps at Cheltenham and has to have a decent chance, while Aforementioned, who will be going the distance for the first time, has been very consistent."

Katie O'Farrell attempts back-to-back wins in the Ratoath Pharmacy Ladies National Handicap Chase (3.40) in which she partners the Jonathan Sweeney-trained Battling Spirit, a horse whom she knows well, having partnered him to victory twice, including over hurdles at Fairyhouse last season.

All eyes will be on Rachael Blackmore, who teams up with Surf Instructor from the Henry De Bromhead stable, while Lisa O'Neill, a dual Kerry National-winning jockey, will be on Presenting Julio for her boss Gordon Elliott.

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