Last two winners head entry for Irish Grand National
Davids Lad, victorious in 2001, and last year’s hero The Bunny Boiler figure in the line-up which also includes five British-trained entries.
Rince Ri has emerged as the likely top-weight providing the ground is safe, according to trainer Ted Walsh. The going is currently good-firm (good in places) on the chase track despite 9.4mm of rain on Sunday evening.
Because of the dry weather forecast over the coming days, Dick Sheil, Fairyhouse General Manager, has decided to water the track.
“We put between four and a half and six thousand gallons per acre on the National track this morning which equates to 4.5mm and 6.0mm. I will most likely repeat the exercise on Thursday and Friday so as not to have the ground any faster than good. To the best of our ability we will endeavour to get the ground as close to good as possible,” said Sheil.
Meanwhile, Hussard Collonges heads four British entries for the Grace One Punchestown Heineken Gold Cup on April 30.
The Peter Beaumont-trained eight-year-old, who was pulled up behind Best Mate in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup last time, has been put in the feature race of the Festival which is worth 160,000 this year.
Also entered from Britain are Charlie Egerton‘s Killusty, who fell at Becher‘s Brook in the Martell Cognac Grand National on his last outing, and Paul Nicholls‘ veteran performer See More Business.
Henry Daly provides the final British contender in Young Spartacus, who was successful in the Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival on his last run.
A strong home defence is headed by Michael Hourigan‘s Beef Or Salmon and Willie Mullins’ stable star Florida Pearl.
Cheltenham Gold Cup third Harbour Pilot may also run in the three mile, one furlong contest, while Foxchapel King could line-up for Mouse Morris.
Davids Lad, who controversially missed the Grand National after being banned for 42 days under the schooling in public rule, has been entered by Tony Martin, while Ted Walsh could be double-handed with both Commanche Court and Rince Ri.
Native Upmanship, impressive winner of the Martell Cognac Melling Chase at Aintree, is in the race as is another Liverpool winner, First Gold, who bounced right back to his best for French trainer Francois Doumen when taking the Martell Cup last time.
The 21-strong entry is completed by Barrow Drive, Colonel Braxton, Knife Edge, Macs Gildoran, More Than A Stroll, Moscow Express, Rathbawn Prince and Takagi.
Elsewhere, Moscow Flyer could meet four of his old foes in the Grade One BMW Chase at Punchestown on April 29.
The nine-year-old, who won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in impressive fashion, could face both Arthur Moore‘s Native Upmanship and Paul Nicholls‘ Cenkos, who were second and third respectively, at the Irish track.
Brian Ellison‘s Latalomne, who fell at the second-last fence at Cheltenham when well in contention, could also face Moscow Flyer as could Philip Hobbs‘ Flagship Uberalles, who was fifth at the Cotswold track.
The six-strong British entry is completed by Richard Phillips‘ Dark‘N Sharp, Tresor De Mai from the Martin Pipe yard and another Nicholls‘ runner, the novice Le Roi Miguel, who was an easy 11-length winner of the Martell Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree.
The 16 entries for the two-mile race, which is worth 120,000, are completed by Arctic Copper, Fadoudal Du Cochet, Killultagh Storm, Knife Edge and Macs Gildoran.
There could be a clash of Aintree winners in the Grade 1 Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle with both Leinster and Limerick Boy engaged.
Limestone Lad is set to bid for a second Grade 1 Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers Hurdle, where he could meet the progressive Cheltenham Festival winners Inching Closer and Xenophon as well as Sacundai, who beat the Champion Hurdle victor Rooster Booster to land the Grade 1 Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle last time out.
