HAVING finished second and fourth with Carsonstown Boy in the last two runnings of the Cheltenham Foxhunters’ Chase, Noel McParlan and trainer Colin McBratney will be hoping to improve on their record next March when they line up with Saturday’s hunters’ chase winner, the 4/6 favourite Marito.

Running in the colours of Belfast’s James Marley, the nine-year-old German-bred gelding was scoring for the third time in succession following open point-to-point wins at Loughanmore in October and Kirkistown the following month. The bay son of Alkalde, who was previously trained by Willie Mullins, also won at Kirkistown last season after which he returned to the track, finishing second twice.