Staker Wallace returned to the winner's enclosure at Nenagh on Sunday afternoon for the first time since 2017, backing up his most encouraging comeback run at Naas in late January.
The lightly-raced son of King's Theatre was prominent throughout, before taking closer order from the third last fence, and asserting before the last to go clear and secure an eight-length victory over the ultra consistent Lite Duties.
"We were delighted with him, he's been hard on himself to get to the track and stuff all along, but everything has settled down with him now.
"I was very happy with him the other day, because Sam Curling's horse, Lite Duties has been very consistent and he put him to bed up the straight easily.
"He is qualified now for the Foxhunters', so we're just going to watch the weather and stuff, because if the ground gets quick over there he won't run, he needs soft ground.
"I was very happy with him the other day, because Sam Curling's horse, Lite Duties has been very consistent and he put him to bed up the straight easily.
"He is qualified now for the Foxhunters', so we're just going to watch the weather and stuff, because if the ground gets quick over there he won't run, he needs soft ground.
"He was a bit fresh at Naas with Áine, and probably did a bit too much throughout the race. He's a fair horse, it's just to get everything right on the day with him, but he's definitely ground-dependant."
In the colours of Tim Hyde, Saint Benedict provided Bolger with a Nenagh double, taking the winner-of-one contest.
The son of Milan had a promising run on his latest effort at Clonmel, where he finished second to the David Christie-trained Some Man.
"Saint Benedict is going to run in a few more hunter chases and a few more point-to-points, young Tim Hyde is going to school as well, so it's not easy for him when he just rides at the weekend.
"He's a grand, safe horse for Tim, he jumps away, and I think when the ground gets better he will be better as well."
"He's a grand, safe horse for Tim, he jumps away, and I think when the ground gets better he will be better as well."
A winner of the Risk Of Thunder Chase at Punchestown back in November, Bolger's exciting recruit Yanworth finished a decent third at Punchestown on Tuesday in the P.P Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase, beaten just two-and-three-quarter lengths behind Neverushacon and is all set for Cheltenham.
"Yanworth is good, he wouldn't have liked the ground.
"Mark (Walsh) didn't think it was as deep as it was. He didn't have a race since Cheltenham in December, so it would've done him good and he'll go to Cheltenham."
In the same contest, Bolger's 12-year-old Josies Orders finished back in fourth spot under Darragh O'Keeffe, and is also Cheltenham bound.
"Josies Orders will go to Cheltenham as well, and Darragh O'Keeffe will ride him.
"It's probably his first ride at the festival. He (Darragh), is a grand fella and he will look after him. You'd think that he wouldn't be good enough to win, but you'd never know.
"He always comes home well there in his races, and he'll go on to Punchestown after that."
"It's probably his first ride at the festival. He (Darragh), is a grand fella and he will look after him. You'd think that he wouldn't be good enough to win, but you'd never know.
"He always comes home well there in his races, and he'll go on to Punchestown after that."
Unfortunately, the 2018 Paddy Power Chase winner, Auvergnat sustained an injury in the Autumn, but Bolger is looking forward to his return next season.
"Auvergnat injured a hind-leg in the Autumn, so he won't be back until after the summer. It's a hind leg so it's not too bad."
Stable-stalwart, On The Fringe is still going strong at 15, and Bolger is aiming for his return to be at Rathcannon point-to-point, as part of an identical plan to his campaign last year, whilst Blue Templar is waiting for a sounder surface, with the ultimate aim being Punchestown.
"On The Fringe is here cantering away, and he'll follow the route that he went last year. He'll go for a point-to-point at Rathcannon, and then he'll run in the hunter chase at Killarney, and then on to Listowel.
"He is 15 now, he looks like a six-year-old! People don't realise that this horse had only four runs every season all his life in the springtime, and he was never over raced. He's feeling well and looks great.
"He is 15 now, he looks like a six-year-old! People don't realise that this horse had only four runs every season all his life in the springtime, and he was never over raced. He's feeling well and looks great.
"Blue Templar is waiting for firm ground. He has to have the ground good, so he'll go to Punchestown."
