The Cheltenham festival is now just six weeks away and with that in mind we have picked out an ante-post selection for the Cross Country Chase on the Wednesday of the four day meeting.
Shady Operator for Cross Country specialist trainer Enda Bolger looks to be the each way value in the current field for the quirky race at 9/1.
In the colours of JP McManus the nine year old looks extremely likeable getting weight off the other runners near the top of the market.
Having been up and down during the last few years, his stand out piece of form came two runs ago when landing a three mile Cross Country Chase around Punchestown.
Having recently had another blow out when only beating one home in a 17 runner handicap hurdle, two places behind Tiger Roll, it will have been used as a prep run for this event.
Getting back over a longer trip and Cross Country event should see him go close.
