It Came To Pass could warm up for a repeat bid at next month’s Cheltenham Festival Hunter Chase by taking in the Thurles Racecourse Hunter Chase next Thursday, as he features as one of 21 initial entries for the 3m 1f contest.
The 11-year-old has only run once since his 66/1 shock success at last year’s Festival when he finished fourth to Stand Up And Fight on his re-appearance at Fairyhouse back in November, with his trainer Eugene O’Sullivan keen to avoid testing underfoot conditions.
He could once again cross paths with his Fairyhouse conqueror at the Co. Tipperary venue with Enda Bolger entering the JP McManus-owned nine-year-old in the race in which he pulled-up in 12 months ago when sent off as the short-priced favourite.
Last year’s 25/1 winner Macs Legend does bid to win back-to-back renewals at the age of 13 as his two recent attempts to run over hurdles have been blighted by weather difficulties that have claimed successive fixture at Limerick in recent weeks, which could see Gerry Kelleher bring him back to the Hunter Chase ranks.
David Christie has entered three of his leading Hunter Chasers – Winged Leader, On The Sod and Some Man, the latter named having finished fourth behind Macs Legend last year.
Hunter Chase winners this season Er Dancer and Templebredin also feature among the entries as too do the former American National winner Jury Duty, Fortria Chase victor Arctic Skipper and Willie Mullins’ Bellow Mome, who holds an entry for April’s Randox Health Grand National at Aintree.
The full list of entries can be viewed here.
