IRISH GRAND NATIONAL: TONY McCOY and Wichita Lineman lit up Cheltenham with a memorable festival victory last month and champion owner JP McManus will be hoping they can do something similar in Monday's Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
The McManus team confirmed yesterday that the William Hill Chase winner will head a strong team of horses carrying the famous green and yellow colours in Easter Monday’s highlight including the cross-country champion Garde Champetre who will be ridden by Nina Carberry.
They figure among an entry of 47 horses left in at yesterday’s forfeit stage and a maximum field of 30 is expected to line up for the €250,000 feature for which Paddy Power rate Wichita Lineman a 9 to 1 joint-favourite with the Willie Mullins-trained Emma Jane.
“Wichita Lineman had quite a hard race at Cheltenham but he has also had a pretty quiet season and the intention is to run on Monday. The plan is for Tony to ride and something like yielding to soft ground would be ideal. We wouldn’t want it too quick,” said McManus’s racing manager, Frank Berry, yesterday.
“We also have Garde Champetre, Arbor Supreme and Breaking Silence. We are looking at those four. But if the weights go up, there are a couple of others (Knock On The Head and Rate Of Knots) that might have a chance of running too,” he added.
That currently doesn’t look like happening as Jim Dreaper reported yesterday that there is a “real chance” of the topweight and Welsh National hero Notre Pere taking his place in one of Ireland’s most prestigious races.
Notre Pere ran third to Hear The Echo in last year’s Irish National which was run on good to yielding ground. Dreaper, a four- time race winner in the 1970s, is keen to run Note Pere again if conditions allow.
“As long as the ground is safe, that is all I care about and it looks favourable at the moment,” he said. “He ran last year and he was okay after it. I’ll have a look at the track on Thursday evening but I’m sure it will be fine. The forecast is favourable too so I think there is a real chance he will run.”
A total of five British-trained horses remain in the race including Poker De Sivola whose trainer, Ferdy Murphy, scored with Granit D’Estruval five years ago.
Royal County Star finished runner-up to Hear The Echo last year and could lead a four-strong team from Tony Martin’s yard. Martin trained 2001 winner David’s Lad. “Royal County Star did it well at Navan on his last start (An Uaimh Chase) as it was his first run since the English Hennessy,” said Martin who also has the option of running Newbay Prop, Hold The Pin and Drumconvis.
“Royal County Star would be happy on good ground but wouldn’t mind a bit of give either.”
Willie Mullins has left in four horses after yesterday’s forfeit stage and as well as Emma Jane, he has the option of running Pomme Tiepy, Arbor Supreme and Ballytrim.
Younger brother Tom is leaning towards running Chelsea Harbour in the race after the horse exited at the third fence in last Saturday’s Aintree Grand National.
“He’s come out of it surprisingly good and he will more than likely take his chance on Monday. After the fall he cantered around to the stands and pulled up. He was a bit excited obviously the day after but we took some blood from him this morning and he’s very good so he might take his chance,” said Tom Mullins yesterday.
Dessie Hughes, a National winner with Timbera in 2003, could also have four runners with the novice Rare Bob joining Oulart, Vic Venturi and Justpourit.
“Rare Bob is probably my best but he is only a novice running in his first handicap which is a big ask. But novices have a good record in the race. Oulart was second in it as a novice,” said Hughes
Yesterday’s going at Fairyhouse was officially “good to yielding” and manager Caroline Grey reported: “There is some rain forecast overnight and also for the morning.”
The Grade Three Ladbrokes Hurdle over two and a half miles has attracted proven Grade One performers such as Aitmatov and the 2008 Irish Champion Hurdle winner Sizing Europe. Also included in the 24-strong entry is the high-class two-mile chaser Big Zeb from Colm Murphy’s yard.
IRISH GRAND NATIONAL BETTING (Paddy Power): 9-1Wichita Lineman and Emma Jane, 10-1Royal County Star, Notre Pere and Pomme Tiepy, 11-1Arbor Supreme, 12-1Drumconvis and Garde Champetre 14-1Casey Jones and Rare Bob, 20-1Bar.
