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Pointers on Track

Irish pointers aim to make their mark on day 3 of Cheltenham

Day three of the Cheltenham festival sees a strong line up of former Irish pointers.

The Grade 1 JLT novices' chase showcases two Irish point graduates Lostintranslation and Kildisart.

Lostintranslation is coming off of the back of a second place finish to race favourite Defi Du Seuil at Kempton in February for Colin Tizzard. The son of Fleminsfirth was an impressive eleven-length winner on his four-year-old debut for the late Willie Codd and Rob James back in November 2016.

Kildisart won on his last outing at Cheltenham in January for Ben Pauling. The seven-year-old gelding made his debut in Irish points at Loughanmore as a four-year-old, finishing second back in March 2016 for Colin McKeever and Wilson Dennison.

The former Irish pointers Boyhood, First Assignment and Not Many Left will all hold chances in the Grade 3 Pertemps handicap hurdle.

The Tom George-trained Boyhood has shown good form around Cheltenham winning the handicap hurdle in January 2018 and finishing second in the handicap hurdle at the November meeting. The Oscar gelding had one run in Irish points as a four-year-old finishing up 6th at Ballindenisk for Paul Tobin.

The Vinnie Roe gelding First Assignment began his racing career with success in the four-year-old maiden at Belclare in April 2017 for Wexford handler Cormac Doyle. The gelding was subsequently sold for £40,000 at the Cheltenham sales. First Assignment has won three of his track starts to date for Ian Williams.

Not Many Left will head into the Pertemps having won his last start in Huntington in January for Jessica Harrington. The son of Oscar started his racing career in the hands of Colin Bowe, winning his point debut at Largy under the guidance of Barry O'Neill.

Monalee and Road To Respect fly the flag for the Irish point graduates in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase.

The Henry De Bromhead-trained Monalee had a good prep run in Gowran Park when winning the Grade 2 Red Mills chase back in February. The son of Milan won his debut point start back in January 2016 as a five-year-old for Kevin O'Sullivan.

Road To Respect, a previous Cheltenham Festival winner, was the runner up in this year's Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown for Noel Meade and Gigginstown House Stud. Eoin Griffin began the Gamut geldings' career in Irish points with a win in the four-year-old maiden at Monksgrange in March 2015.

The Grade 1 Stayers' hurdle will host many former Irish pointers including Faugheen, Black Op and Kilbricken Storm.

Faugheen is the market's favourite out of the group mentioned above. The two-time Cheltenham festival winner won his debut point in Ireland for Andy Slattery in April 2012.

Tom George's Black Op will hold a good each way chance. The son of Sandmason was a convincing 25 length winner on his five-year-old debut back in March 2016 for Rodney Ian Arthur. Roger Brookhouse subsequently purchased the gelding for £210,000.

Kilbricken Storm enjoyed success in last year's Albert Bartlett and will hold a chance here also. The Oscar gelding won by half-a-length on his third outing in Irish points for Richard O'Keeffe.

The Grade 3 handicap chase will be contested by some fine Irish point graduates including River Wylde for Nicky Henderson, Spirit Of The Games for Dan Skelton and Kalondra for Neil Mulholland.

Kalondra finished third on both of his point starts for Andy Slattery. Spirit Of The Games was a debut winner at Lisronagh for Donnchadh Doyle in the four-year-olds back in 2016. While River Wylde was second on his only point run at Rockfield back in November 2015 for Roisin Hickey.

Sinoria, Lust For Glory and Posh Trish will represent the former Irish pointers in the Mare's novices' hurdle.

The daughter of Stowaway, Posh Trish, holds the strongest chance out of the group mentioned. The mare won her debut point for Shark Hanlon at Lemonfield back in March 2017. The six-year-old who is now trained by Paul Nicholls won her last outing at Taunton over Christmas in the hands of Harry Cobden. 

The Kim Muir chase showcases plenty of former Irish pointers including Livelaughlove, Out Sam, Kilfilum Cross, Rogue Angel and Measure Of My Dreams.

The Gordon Elliot-trained Measure Of My Dreams seems to hold the best chance of success out of the former pointers. The son of Shantou ran twice as a five-year-old in 2013, winning on his second start at Quakerstown under the guidance of Derek O'Connor.

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