Enda Bolger

Seven time point to point champion Enda Bolger is now a renowned Limerick-based trainer who monopolises cross-country races and has an excellent record in the Cross Country Handicap Chase; one of the longest handicap races at the Cheltenham Festival. He has taken two race wins and a place in the last five years and his latest proof of greatness was with Garde Champetre in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham, where Garde Champetre was the 9-4 favourite.

In 2008, Bolger had won the 3 mile 7 furlong contest for the fourth year in a row with Spot the Difference, and he has also had success with horses Elegant Lord; who won thirteen races in total including the Foxhunters Chases at the Cheltenham Festival in 1996, the Champion Hunters Chase at Punchestown from 1994 – 1996 and the Foxhunters Chase at Aintree in 1999; and Risk of Thunder, who Bolger trained for actor Sean Connery, winning the La Touche Cup in 1999.

An amazing accomplishment for the trainer was in March when he scored a 1,2,3 for horse owner JP McManus in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase – Garde Champetre came first with L’Ami and Drombeag coming second and third. During this race Garde Champetre was ridden by Nina Carberry, and it has only been once since the event was introduced at the Festival in 2005 that Bolger has been beaten, and that was by Native Jack in 2006.

Bolgers last entry to the National was in 2009 with L’Ami who pulled up at the 30th fence, but his record for cross-country and banks races is one that is likely never be surpassed. During his own riding career, he rode many winners for P.P. Hogan, including five renewals of the Champion Hunters Chase at the Punchestown Festival. It was only in 2006, and because of J T McNamara did Bolger lose his record for his number of wins in point-to-points with 413, and he was crowned champion point-to-point rider on seven occasions.

JT McNamara is now one of his principle riders, alongside Nina Carberry. He served his time with P.P. Hogan, learning how to train horses through him, and started doing so in the early 1990s. He obviously learnt well as he has won the La Touche Cup eleven times, but it wasn’t until 1999 that he concentrated fully on training, leaving his riding days behind him.

It was Spot the Difference who filled the void left after the extremely successful Risk of Thunder, establishing himself a cult following seven wins in cross-country races at Cheltenham, and a victory at the 2005 Glenfarclas Handicap Chase Cross Country.

It is now Garde Champetre and L’Ami who hold extreme promise for Bolger, having both dominated cross-country and banks races since they have joined him. Garde Champetre has won four times around the cross-country course at Cheltenham and the La Touche Cup at Punchestown, while L’Ami has twice won over the banks at Punchestown, and finished second to Garde Champetre twice at Cheltenham.