Azorian in the Gigginstown colours© Photo Healy Racing
Eoin Griffin is hopeful Azorian can take home a share of the huge prize-money on offer in the Setanta Sports Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown.
Since making a winning debut over timber at Cork in early November, the six-year-old has found himself competing against the likes of Briar Hill, Faugheen and Vautour in top novice company this season and has predictably come up short.
However, switching to a handicap for this 100,000 euro contest, Griffin believes his charge is capable of making his presence felt.
He said: "He is in good form at home here and he came out of his last run well. He is stepping into handicap company for the first time and I suppose it will depend on how he copes with the hustle and bustle. We will just have to wait and see, but hopefully he will run a good race.
"He had the hood on the last day. He can be a bit buzzy at times and it just seemed to help him. It is a very competitive race, but you would expect that with the prize money on offer."
A fiercely competitive field of 25 runners is due to go to post for the two-and-a-half-mile contest, with Willie Mullins saddling no less than nine horses. The champion trainer's team includes Mikael D'Haguenet Tarla Upsie and Noble Inn
The Donal O'Shea-trained Coolmill won successive races at Cork earlier in the season, but was pulled up on his return to action at the same track last month.
O'Shea said: "He's in good form, and I hope he runs better than he did at Cork the last day. He pulled up, but that was because he hadn't run for about five months. He needed that run and he will come on for it I hope."
The final day of the Festival gets under way with the Irish Field Chase. Cross-country king Enda Bolger saddles Keep On Track runner-up in the La Touche Cup earlier in the week, as well as Tuesday's Ladies Cup winner Be Positive and Star Neuville
Bolger said: "Keep On Track came out of the La Touche in good nick and we are letting him take his chance again. Star Neuville disappointed us at Cheltenham but he seems to be back in good form now. He finished third in this race last year and I'm hoping for a big run from him.
"Be Positive came out of his race on Tuesday in good form, and I think he is going to be a very exciting young horse, he is only five, and he really took to the course well on Tuesday."
The three-mile-six-furlong Madra Irish Dog Foods Handicap Chase has attracted a strong field, with Paul Nolan saddling last month's Fairyhouse scorer Jupitor
Nolan said: "He got a very, very good ride from Robert Power the last day, and he jumped very well. The trip won't be a problem, he probably would prefer softer ground, but we are hoping for a decent run as it will be his last run of the season."
Terence O'Brien 's Glenquest chased home Jupitor last month and reopposes. "He is in tremendous form, I couldn't be happier with him, but it is his first time over an extreme distance, and we are just hoping he stays the trip. He jumps well and I think he will run a good race," said the handler.
O'Brien is also represented in the Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase, with More Madness creeping in at the bottom of the weights. Prince de Beauchene tops the weights for Mullins, with Tom George's British raider Chartreux also featuring.
O'Brien said: "He has been running out of his skin, and it has kind of surprised us how much he has improved. The fact that he is running back so soon after the he ran at Fairyhouse less than a fortnight ago is a bit of a question to ask him, but with such a good pot on offer we said we'd let him take his chance.
"He is a tough horse, and he seems to thrive off racing, but he has been in a long time and it will definitely be his last run of the season. We are hopeful of a good run."
