The concluding day of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival sees a further 44 point-to-point graduates declared.
Embittered, Thatsy and Rathhill are set to represent point-to-point graduates in the Grade 1 Randox Health County Hurdle.
Embittered was placed in a four-year-old maiden at Inchydoney in 2018 for Pat Doyle before joining the Gordon Elliott team.
Thatsy won a four-year-old maiden at Lingstown in 2018 on debut for Donnchadh Doyle prior to being bought by Gordon Elliott at the Cheltenham April Sale for £130,000, whilst Rathhhill finished second on debut in a four-year-old maiden at Loughbrickland in 2017 for handler Colin McKeever before joining the Nicky Henderson team.
In a field of 19 in its entirety, the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett is set to see a further nine point-to-point graduates line up.
Monkfish was very impressive at Thurles in late-January, winning by a comfortable 20 lengths. The son of Stowaway won a four-year-old geldings' maiden at Stowlin in April of 2018 for his handler Cormac Doyle.
Following that impressive effort, he was bought at the Cheltenham May Sale by Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins for £235,000.
Finishing fourth to Monkfish on point-to-point debut at Stowlin, Fury Road won a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Limerick during the Christmas period and has been one of the 'talking horses' of the season. Also by Stowaway, the gelding got off the mark in a four-year-old maiden at Dromahane in 2018 for handler Pat Doyle and rider Johnny Barry before joining the Gordon Elliott yard.
Other ex pointers that are declared for this Grade 1 contest include Aione, Cobblers Way, Harry Senior, Kiltealy Briggs, Lieutenant Rocco, Oscar Academy and Ramses De Teillee.
The highlight of the festival, the Magners-sponsored Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup sees four point-to-point graduates in a field of 12.
Chris's Dream (pictured above) recently took the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park in mid-February, and he is one of two horses set to represent the Henry De Bromhead team in this prestigious contest. The imposing son of Mahler won a four-year-old maiden in 2016 at Boulta for handler Eugene O'Sullivan. He then went on to win a maiden hurdle at Limerick before being bought by Tom Malone for £175,000 at the Cheltenham December Sale.
Monalee also represents the Henry De Bromhead team. The son of Milan won a five-year-old geldings' maiden at Templenacarriga in 2016 for his handler Kevin O'Sullivan before subsequently joining the Henry De Bromhead stable.
Elegant Escape finished second to Samcro, beaten just a length on that occasion for handler Gordon Elliott. Following this encouraging effort, he was snapped up by Colin Tizzard for €150,000 at the 2016 Punchestown Sale.
Lostintranslation, who finished second in last year's renewal of the Grade 1 JLT Novices' Chase finished fourth on his point-to-point debut at 2016 for the late Willie Codd prior to joining the Colin Tizzard team.
A remarkable 17 point-to-point graduates are set to line up in the St. James's Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase in a full field of 24.
Billaway has been a model of consistency for the Willie Mullins team this season, most recently winning a hunter chase at Naas where he beat the Enda Bolger-trained Staker Wallace who is also set to take part in this contest.
Billaway won a six-year-old geldings' maiden at Ballinaboola for handler Tracey Gilmour before joining the Willie Mullins stable, whilst Staker Wallace won a six-year-old and upwards geldings' maiden at Kilfeacle in 2017.
Dylrow took an open lightweight at Kirkistown in November, beating the Shark Hanlon-trained Mighty Stowaway by four lengths.
Placed in the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Minella Rocco took a four-year-old maiden at Horse And Jockey in 2014 for handler John Nallen and jockey Corky Carroll prior to joining the Jonjo O'Neill team.
Other point-to-point graduates that are set to line up in this contest include Arctic Skipper, Bishops Road, Chosen Dream, Duhallow Tornado, Hazel Hill, It Came To Pass, Law Of Gold, Marcle Ridge, Mr Mercurial, Rewritetherules, Sausalito Sunrise, Stellar Notion and Kalabaloo.
The penultimate race of the festival, the Grade 3 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase is set to see a full field of 24 go to post, with four of those graduates of the point-to-point circuit.
Jan Maat finished second on debut in a four-year-old geldings' maiden at Bartlemy in May 2017 for handler Cormac Doyle before joining the Henry De Bromhead team.
McGroarty took a six-year-old geldings' maiden at Kinsale in June 2017 for handler David Kiely, Gino Trail won a four-year-old maiden at Ballingarry in 2011 for Kieran Purcell whilst Chosen Mate took a five-year-old geldings' maiden at Loughbrickland for Colin McKeever before changing hands to Gordon Elliott for £32,000 at the Cheltenham November Sale 2018.
The concluding contest on Friday evening, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey's Handicap Hurdle.
Ran over a distance of two and a half miles, 24 runners are set to go to post, with seven of these being point-to-point graduates.
The Bosses Oscar won a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas period in a quality field of 17, and looks one of the leading hopes for ex pointers in this concluding contest.
The son of Oscar was placed on two occasions in four-year-old maiden company for Denis Murphy at Portlaw and Loughanmore before changing hands to Aidan O'Ryan and Gordon Elliott for £75,000.
Other point-to-point graduates in the finale of the festival include Assemble, Umbrigado, Pileon, Thomas MacDonagh, Happygolucky and Everybreathyoutake.
