Orders set for Cheltenham after third Punchestown win

'Banks King' Enda Bolger struck again at Punchestown this afternoon when Josies Orders claimed his third success over the cross country course at the Kildare venue.

Mark Walsh had the 11-year-old handy throughout in the three-mile-one contest and the 5/4 favourite moved up to dispute jumping Ruby's Double for the final time.

The 14-year-old Mtada Supreme had the advantage going to the second last but after a slight error there he was joined again by Josies Orders.

The JP McManus-owned gelding gained a narrow advantage before the final hurdle and stuck on gamely in the closing stages as Hurricane Darwin finished well to get within two lengths.

Bolger said:- “You probably know where we are heading! He stays well and sees it out, and we’ll try and keep him in one piece now for March.

“They weren’t bad horses in it this year, it was a good test and the timing is just right.

“His ears were pricked and that’s why those things (blinkers) are on him. I’m chuffed with that, and it’s poignant that it was in the race for my old boss (P P Hogan).

“Hopefully Auvergnat will go to Cheltenham as well. We were just dodging the ground with him, and he might have a prep run somewhere over hurdles.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)