RACING DOWNPATRICK PREVIEW:IT ISN'T the most prestigious race under the Grand National banner but JP McManus's colours can still come out on top in today's €25,000 Downpatrick feature with Flemensford.
McManus famously broke his National duck at Aintree last year with Don’t Push It and Synchronized did the job in the Welsh version at Chepstow in January for the season’s leading owner in Ireland.
A total of 15 line up in today’s Toals Bookmakers Ulster National which will be a serious stamina test over three and a half miles.
Every pound will start to count in the closing stages and Flemensford is certainly at the right end of the weights scale. He also has the former Aintree National winner “Slippers” Madden on his back.
Flemensford has been operating over hurdles recently and won the second of two victories at Limerick over Christmas off a higher rating than he has over fences now.
Davy Russell is cutting into Paul Townend’s lead at the top of the Irish jockeys table and can continue that with Belle Brook in the mares novice hurdle. The balance of her form gives Belle Brook an obvious chance against this opposition.
Couleur De La Loi ran into a tough opponent in Domination at Clonmel and looks to have an easier task in today’s Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.
The Grand National theme is set to continue at Naas on Sunday when the €30,000 Lucan Racing Leinster National will be run off over three miles.
A total of 26 entries were left in the race at yesterday’s forfeit stage, including last year’s winner Ballytrim, who was the medium of a monster bet in England last month for the Aintree National in April.
A William Hill customer in Cornwall put ten grand in cash on Ballytrim at 40 to 1 for Liverpool, resulting in those odds being halved due to a €400,000 liability.
Ballytrim, who races in the Violet O’Leary colours made famous by Florida Pearl, ran third to Siegemaster and his stable companion, The Midnight Club, in January’s Thyestes Chase at Gowran.
Also among Sunday’s entries is Vic Venturi, the former Becher Chase winner, who ran fourth to The Midnight Club in last week’s Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.
Gordon Elliott’s Tharawaat holds a number of Cheltenham entries, including over hurdles in the Coral Cup, and is among the entries for Sunday’s novice chase at Naas.
The English-trained Listed winner Iconoclast is being aimed at the Irish National on Easter Monday at Fairyhouse following his dramatic Ascot success last month when he delivered victory despite a desperate blunder at the ninth fence.
“I’ve had some thoughts about plans but there’s nothing concrete yet, it’s very much ground dependent.
“I’d like to go over to Fairyhouse for the Irish National, he’s rated 136 now and I think he should get in off that and he will definitely stay the trip,” said trainer Alex Hales yesterday.
“I’ve given him a very tentative entry in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown but the ground is usually on the quicker side there.
“There’s also the option of a race at Ascot on April 10 but I’d like to go to Fairyhouse.” .
