Gold Cup fourth Holywell on course to run at Aintree
The Grade One event on the opening day of the Gr and National meeting is next on the agenda for the Jonjo O’Neill-trained eight-year-old after his fine run behind Coneygree in the blue riband.
That was just a fourth outing of the season for O’Neill’s charge, who won at the National fixture 12 months ago when he followed up a Cheltenham success with victory in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase, beating Don Cossack.
O’Neill said: “He’s come out of the race well, we will see how he is next week but the plan is to go to Aintree.
“He’s not done much since Cheltenham, he looks like he has come out of it well and seems fine.”
Meanwhile Enda Bolger has given On The Fringe the go-ahead to run in the Crabbie’s Fox Hunters’ Chase at Aintree in three weeks’ time.
The JP McManus-owned 10-year-old claimed the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham by 17 lengths last week, and will now attempt to complete what has become a rare double.
Bolger told the Irish Independent: “He came home in great nick.
“Hopefully we will be heading to Liverpool with him. We are giving him a fortnight chilling out and we will start him back for Liverpool then.
“Liverpool was on our agenda at the beginning of the season because it looked like the obvious race for him.
“I don’t know whether it is because he has got older and more experienced, but he definitely seems to be seeing out his races better this season than ever.”
Pont Alexandre is in line to have his first start for 743 days at Cork next Thursday.
The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old has not been seen on the track since finishing third to The New One and Rule The World in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March 2013.
Possessing a big home reputation, the Rich Ricci-owned Pont Alexandre won his first two starts, a Grade One at Navan and a Grade Two at Leopardstown, for his new connections. and is reportedly working well at home.
