Pulse on Punchestown path

Finger On the Pulse will bid for a Festival double when he lines up for a crack at the Ellier Developments Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown on Tuesday.

Tom Taaffe’s charge won the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last month and is reportedly still on great terms with himself.

“He’ll run in the Ellier Developments on the Tuesday over three miles and one furlong,” said Taaffe.

“It’ll be his first run at the trip but if you can get two-miles-five at Cheltenham you should get three miles anywhere.

“He’s come out of Cheltenham very well, he’s in as good nick as he was before, if not better.

“I’m very happy with him and I’m happy the ground is drying for him.”

Taaffe is also likely to be represented at Punchestown by the promising Ninetieth Minute, who has not been seen since finishing third behind Mister Top Notch in January.

“The ground was very heavy in Cork and he was taking on an older horse and an experienced handicapper in Mister Top Notch,” Taaffe told 'At The Races'.

“My horses just weren’t firing at the time and he hasn’t run since then as I just wanted to get him back.

“He has a number of options through the week and we’ll try and take the best one when we go through the entries.”