Crowley desperate to give Nil Desperandum a run
Crowley’s eight-year-old, who finished sixth behind Hedgehunter in the John Smith’s Grand National this year, is entered for the Listed People Newspapers Bettyville Handicap Chase at Wexford on Sunday.
The gelding’s reappearance over fences may have to be delayed, though, due to excessive rainfall and his trainer is looking for another suitable pipe-opener before the Aintree feature.
“He’s in there on Sunday but it looks like that meeting is not going to go ahead because of the rain they’ve had,” explained the County Kildare handler.
“He’ll be carrying top weight but he’s going well at the moment.
“If it does go ahead we’ll probably run him because he had a nice spin on the Flat at Navan (on October 12) just to get him going again.
“We’ll be looking to have a run before going for the Becher - he ran so well in the National that it would make a lot of sense to go for that race.”
Nil Desperandum, who will bypass the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup in preference to the Becher Chase, has won seven of his 19 starts over the obstacles.
But as the son of Un Desperado is not the most straightforward of types, Crowley is still looking for the right jockey to partner him this season.
“I think there’s a bit more progress, but he’s a bit quirky so it is important we get a jockey who can gel with him,” added Crowley.
“I would love to have Ruby Walsh but that’s probably not going to happen because he’s injured.
“We’ll have to sit down and work out who would be the best man for the job.”
