Money points to Barrow
Ladbrokes have been forced to further shorten his odds to 10-1 joint-favourite (from 12s) for the Aintree spectacular after his fine third over hurdles at Navan on Saturday.
And Hughes could not be happier with his charge.
He said: “He’s perfect, it was as good as any of his hurdles runs on a line through A New Story.
“In his novice year he was pretty useful over hurdles – he was placed in a Grade Two – so even though he had top weight it was no surprise he ran well.
“He’s a horse that wants three and a half miles nowadays as well so that would have been sharp enough for him over two-mile-six.
“He’s got a reasonable weight in the Irish National, but we have always favoured Aintree.
“I would think that Philip Carberry will be riding him, he had a fantastic Cheltenham and you can’t beat confidence.”
Meanwhile, Paul Carberry has been handed the ride aboard ante-post favourite Dun Doire.
The jockey, who has been sidelined with a foot injury since February 25, has twice partnered the Tony Martin-trained runner to success but has not taken the reins since the duo combined to winning effect over a year ago.
Carberry hopes to be back in action in the near future and is already looking forward to the Aintree feature on April 14.
Of Dun Doire, who bounced back to winning ways under Bobby McNally at Down Royal this month, Carberry said: “I’ve won a couple of races on him and he’s a good ride to pick up for the National.
“He’s a strong, sturdy stayer, and he has the ability, so I’d hope that if everything goes okay he could go really well.”
Jonjo O’Neill has revealed John Smith’s Grand National regular Clan Royal will have a new partner when he has one last attempt at the Aintree spectacular.
The 12-year-old has been placed twice and was agonisingly carried out in 2005 when leading and travelling strongly at Becher’s on the second circuit.
Tony McCoy has been his partner for the last two seasons but JT McNamarais likely to be on board on April 14.
“Clan Royal will be there, it will be his fourth National,” said O’Neill.
“He seems in good form, but he might just be a bit long in the tooth now - maybe he has had his best chance, but he is in good form and he deserves to be there.
“He crashed out early in the Becher Chase and he didn’t like that and we then ran him at Ascot and he didn’t really want to know.
“He has been with Enda Bolger who has had him hunting and John Thomas (McNamara) has been riding him at home. I think he is going to ride him in the National. Hopefully that might revitalise him a little bit,” he said.
“I’m not sure what Tony (McCoy) will ride now as I think he was going to be on Far From Trouble, but unfortunately he is injured.”
John Smith’s Grand National; Ladbrokes bet: 10-1 Dun Doire, Point Barrow, 12-1 Numbersixvalverde, 14-1 Hedgehunter, 16-1 Billyvoddan, Eurotrek, Joes Edge, Simon, 20-1 Bothar Na, Clan Royal, Idle Talk, L’Ami, Ossmoses, State Of Play, 25-1 bar.
