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Josies to bid for another Cheltenham success

Josies Orders (right)Josies Orders (right)
© Photo Healy Racing

Josies Orders is bidding for a fifth Cheltenham win in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase for Enda Bolger on Friday.

The 10-year-old was a game victor at the November meeting from Fact Of The Matter, who takes him on again.

Cross-country king Bolger also run the eight-year-old My Hometown, a winner over the Punchestown banks course last time out, but it is Josies Orders, ridden by Mark Walsh, who is the undoubted first string.

“We know what we’re going to get with Josies, I hope,” said Bolger.

“He tends to run his race whatever. With Tiger Roll not running, the weights have gone up and he meets the second horse from the last day on near enough the same terms.

“My Hometown won very well at Punchestown, but this is a different level — he’s in against much better horses like Josies and Bless The Wings.

“I’d also be wary of the French horse (Amazing Comedy) as he’s got some very good form in France and has run well at the Festival before.

“My Hometown would have an outside chance, he’s got a low weight, but he wouldn’t be at the same level as Josies.

“The ground should be fine for them both, Josies bounced off it last time so it won’t be a problem.”

In the surprise absence of National hero Tiger Roll, Gordon Elliott is represented by Bless The Wings, who was fifth in November, while joining Fact Of The Matter in the British team is Emma Lavelle’s Junction Fourteen.

Willie Mullins runs Ballycasey, a Grade Two winner in his pomp, with Henry de Bromhead’s Full Cry another interesting runner.