Gilgamboa to step up in trip after promising comeback at Punchestown

Trainer Enda Bolger is relishing the prospect of seeing Gilgamboa tackle three miles later this season following his promising comeback in Sunday’s John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.

Making his first appearance since winning the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse in the spring, the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old looked likely to be well-beaten at the halfway stage, but finished strongly in the straight to place third behind the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Djakadam and Valseur Lido.

Bolger is in no rush to commit to future targets, but feels his charge is now ready for a step in distance.