DESSIE HUGHES endured Black Apalachi finishing runner-up to Don’t Push It at Aintree last weekend, but the Curragh trainer is hoping Montero can go one better when he lines up in today’s Scottish Grand National at Ayr.
Montero is joined by John Daniel Moore’s Cleni Boy in a double Irish challenge on the four-mile plus marathon, which sees man-of-the-moment Tony McCoy on board Theatrical Moment, a stable companion of Don’t Push It.
“He won three times in the autumn when the ground was good, then we put him away for the winter,” Hughes said yesterday. “He’s only a novice but he goes on good ground, he stays well and he’s a good jumper.”
Slippers Madden is on Cleni Boy, while Andrew McNamara, successful on Bluesea Cracker in the Irish National 12 days ago, is on the topweight Killyglen.
British champion trainer Paul Nicholls has confirmed Denman is on course for Wednesday’s Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown, where he will also be represented by Twist Magic in Tuesday’s Boylesports Champion Chase.
“Denman schooled Thursday and is ready to go. All being well he will head over on Sunday with Twist Magic, and the plan is for Tony McCoy to ride Denman again,” Nicholls said.
A busy weekend at home begins at Naas today where Johnny Murtagh can have a productive afternoon, including on board Walk On Bye in the Listed Woodlands Stakes. The champion jockey rides Tommy Stack’s filly for the first time, and although she faces a tough task against older horses, like the 2008 winner Snaefell, Walk On Bye started favourite to win last year’s Phoenix Stakes and looks to have more than a touch of quality.
Murtagh is also on the Lincoln runner-up Harriers Call in the seven-furlong handicap, while his decision to plump for the Holy Roman Emperor filly Juliet Capulet in the five-furlong maiden could be significant.
