Enda Bolger feels the Fortria Chase at Navan on Sunday is "a nice starting point" for his stable star Gilgamboa. A Grade One winner as a novice, he might not have hit the target last season but he ran several good races in top company.
A 10-length fifth in the Ryanair Chase over an extended two and a half miles, he showed his versatility just a month later when fourth in the Grand National. He starts off this weekend over two miles, with a return to Aintree firmly on the agenda.
"It's a good starting point and we just had to find a race for him, in truth," said Bolger.
"This looks like a place to kick off and we'll see how he gets on. It's a nice track for him to start off, the trip is a bit short and he will probably need the run as it's first time out. I think he's about 90 per cent fit so I'm hoping this will tune him up.
"I'd imagine the National will be the plan again but we can pick a route after this, we might take him over for the Becher, we'll see. To run in the Ryanair and then the National just shows how lucky we are to have him."
Gilgamboa is owned by JP McManus, who also has Cheltenham Festival winner Cause Of Causes running for him. Cause Of Causes is one of three horses for Gordon Elliott, with Tell Us More and The Game Changer, first and second in a Grade Three last week, also in the hunt.
"The Game Changer hasn't won for some time but he is very consistent and, hopefully, he'll pick up some more prize-money," said Elliott.
"Cause Of Causes is having his first run of the season. It's a competitive race and we're just hoping he runs a nice race and that he will progress from it. Tell Us More came out of his win at Naas last weekend in good form and while this represents a step up in class, we decided to let him take his chance."
Willie Mullins runs Ballycasey, and said: "It's a long time since he ran over such a short distance and we decided to drop in trip to see how he gets on. He's in good form and will have fitness on his side."
Fago has his first run for Pat Griffin since leaving Paul Nicholls, with Arctic Skipper completing the field.
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