Enda Bolger looks to Stand Up And Fight to continue love affair with La Touche

4.50 Punchestown
Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase | 4m2f | 5yo+ | RTE2/RTV

The La Touche instantly evokes memories of the remarkable Risk Of Thunder who won this race seven times between 1995 and 2002 and his trainer is seeking more success in the famous race.

Enda Bolger has taken two of the last four runnings of the race with Quantitativeeasing (2016) and Auvergnat (2018) and is represented by Stand Up And Fight and Blue Templar on this occasion.

Stand Up And Fight hit a low of 1.04 in-running on his most recent outing in a hunter chase at Fairyhouse earlier this month but was reeled in by Solomn Grundy in the final few strides.

He has never faced this sort of challenge under rules but did win a point-to-point at the banks course at Lingston in March last year, doing so by an authoritative six lengths from Better B Quick. He arrives here in rude health and deserves serious respect.

Bolger's other runner is Blue Templar. He won twice in the same week at the 2019 Punchestown festival and likes this sort of ground but the worry is whether he is good enough to take out a race of this quality.

Some Neck probably has the best form in the book. He won at Cheltenham's December meeting and returned to finish third behind a resurgent Tiger Roll at the festival last month. A repeat of that performance would give him leading claims here with Ben Harvey taking off a valuable 7lb.

Space Cadet: winner of the Ulster National at DownpatrickCredit: Patrick McCann

Space Cadet is very interesting. The 2020 Ulster National winner was fifth in that race last month, but his third to Shady Operator on his first go over this course suggests he will be a big player in this. He is a thorough stayer who loves decent ground and he might prove hard to beat.

Alpha Des Obeaux is another to consider. He was a proper Grade 1 performer in his prime and his Grand National display suggests he has not lost the plot yet. That was a big performance in the context of this race and Jamie Codd, chasing the amateur title, takes the ride.

This is always a fascinating spectacle and the vote goes to Space Cadet, who has more scope for improvement than most on only his second try over the banks course.

What they say

John McConnell, trainer of Some Neck
If he performs to his best he would have to have a great chance. It would be great to finish off the season by winning this. I'm from just down the road so it's always been a special race. I remember PP Hogan cleaning up in it during the 80s. It would great to be a part of that history.

Gearoid O'Loughlin, trainer of Space Cadet
We schooled him at Punchestown the other day with blinkers on and he seemed to love it. He enjoys this sort of test and it was encouraging to see the way he travelled on his first try over the banks course in February. He likes nice ground and I think he will love the trip too so I'm hoping for a big run.

Enda Bolger, trainer of Stand Up And Fight and Blue Templar
Stand Up And Fight has already won a point-to-point on the banks course at Lingstown and he loved it that day. He was just caught at Fairyhouse and got a bit lonely when the other horse with him fell. He's been in good form since and we're hoping all these different types of jumps will keep him interested. Blue Templar will love the good ground but he's not the best horse in the world.

Denise Foster, trainer of Alpha Des Obeaux
He has been a great servant over the years and he ran well for a long way in the Grand National. He seemed to enjoy himself over the cross country course at Cheltenham and you'd like to think he has the class to be a player here.

Read more on day three at Punchestown:

5.25 Punchestown: Flooring Porter out to emulate Anzum by completing Cheltenham-Punchestown double

5.25 Punchestown: Flooring Porter the one to beat but Beacon's odds give him the edge in Stayers (Members' Club)

6.00 Punchestown: Willie Mullins relies on unexposed Capodanno to add to outstanding record

6.35 Punchestown: Energumene ready for take-off as Mullins eyes sixth Ryanair on the trot

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