Moylisha Tim © Photo Healy Racing
Moylisha Tim bids to move one step closer to an appearance at the Cheltenham Festival with a prominent showing in the Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Thursday.
The five-year-old has won twice over hurdles since breaking his duck in a Kilbeggan bumper in early September, including a Grade Three over this three-mile distance at Cork on his penultimate start.
He was last seen finishing second behind Falcon Crest in the Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan and trainer Richie Rath is looking forward to seeing him step back up in trip, with the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle his spring objective.
Rath said: "The horse himself is in good form. The only worry I would have would be the ground.
"He's won three already this season and I was delighted with his last run as he'd missed 10 days work since his run in Cork. He should be better this time, hopefully.
"I'm aiming towards the Albert Bartlett, so we need to step up in these big races to see if he's up to it.
"It's a good race, Up For Review would look the one to beat, but our horse should run a cracker if he handles the ground.
"He really needs to be finishing in the first three if we're going to go to Cheltenham with him."
Moylisha Tim will have to concede weight to five rivals, with champion trainer Willie Mullins responsible for both impressive Fairyhouse winner Up For Review and the unbeaten Nambour
Gordon Elliott is also double-handed, with Cogry ill and Jetstream Jack in contention, while the Philip Rothwell-trained Ben Button completes the field.
