Notre Pere to give National pointer

CHELTENHAM-FEVER may be mounting, but there will be a distinct Liverpool vibe at Fairyhouse today where Notre Pere can get back to winning form in the Grade Two feature.

Nine runners line up for the Attheraces Bobbyjo Chase, a race won by Hedgehunter in 2005 before he went on to Grand National glory at Aintree.

Last year Black Apalachi won this and subsequently was running a stormer over the big fences when he exited at Becher’s second time around.

He and his stablemate Vic Venturi, both Becher Chase winners, are lining up this afternoon against other National hopes such as Irish Invader, One Cool Cookie and Priests Leap.

Notre Pere, another National possible, was handed joint-topweight this week.

On these terms he has an obvious advantage, and it could be best to ignore Notre Pere’s Hennessy run, when the slow early pace was against him.

Alaivan was toppled from the head of the Triumph Hurdle betting when well beaten by Carlito Brigante at Christmas, but gets another chance to impress in the Grade Two Winning Fair Hurdle.

Edward O’Grady’s charge was ultra-impressive on his jumping debut at Gowran and can book his Prestbury Park ticket by defeating Politeo and the progressive Big Game Hunter.

Romanesco ran into a good one in Up Ou’ That in a bumper here, but Henry De Bromhead’s point-to-point winner looks one to keep on-side in the opening maiden hurdle.

Steviemac should go close in the handicap hurdle after getting a less than clear run in his last start at Leopardstown.

Having A Cut can continue the Liverpool link in the hunters chase.

Edward O’Grady’s horse was third in the Foxhunters over the big fences last year and ran well for a long way in this race last year before being pulled up.