Hughes bullish over Point Barrow chance
The nine-year-old has enjoyed a very similar preparation to last year’s winner Numbersixvalverde, winning the Irish Grand National 12 months ago before mixing his time over hurdles and fences this season.
He landed a big prize at Leopardstown in January and caught the eye when staying on to great effect in a two-mile-six-furlong hurdle race on his latest outing.
And despite showing better form on ground with plenty of cut, Hughes believes good ground will not pose a problem.
“I’d say he’s in good form and I’m very happy with him – his preparation has been good,” said Hughes.
“Aintree has been watered for quite a while now and I see today that they might water after racing in the next two days so I’ll be happy it’d be as good as it was for the Irish National last year.
“He travels so well in his races and he’s always come home well so he’s never had any problems on good ground.
“Just before the Leopardstown Chase, he hadn’t really had a chance to show what he really was this year but he came out and won.
“Then we gave him a bit of a break and he had a bruised foot so didn’t run in the race that Dun Doire won in Down Royal.
“He ran in the Bobbyjo Chase and we’ve had no hiccups since so we’re delighted with his preparation in that respect.
“I know he’s up in the weights a bit but he’s a horse that stays and jumps and it’s the luck in running that counts,” he told At The Races.
“I’d say that if he can avoid trouble, he’ll definitely be in the first four.”
Donald McCain is aiming to add to his family’s impressive record in the race with Idle Talk.
His father, Ginger, claimed three Nationals with Red Rum in the 1970s before Amberleigh House added a fourth victory in 2004.
McCain jnr is now in charge at their Cheshire base and Idle Talk’s big-race rider Jason Maguire believes it is possible for the trainer to cap a dream first season with National success.
“Idle Talk’s in good form and he was a bit unfortunate at Cheltenham in the Gold Cup where I just got shipped out the side door, but that’s racing,” he said.
“I got a slight bump off Beef Or Salmon and then I was out the side door, but hopefully we’ll make amends on Saturday.
“He definitely won’t mind the ground and, touch wood, he’s a very good jumper. It’s his first time over the National fences but he should take to them - hopefully he’ll be OK.
“For a novice his Scottish National performance (fourth) was a great run and hopefully he’s a stronger horse this year and he’ll get the trip.”
Backers of favourite Joes Edge have faced an anxious wait to see if their fancy makes the cut for the big-race, with Ferdy Murphy’s charge needing two to drop out.
However, he is almost certain to get a run now after Fota Island was declared for Friday’s Melling Chase while the Sir Robert Ogden-owned Iris Royal will also miss out.
“Iris Royal will not run. He has had a little blood problem for a couple of weeks and he is not going to be right to run on Saturday,” said Barry Simpson, Ogden’s racing manager.
“He could run but at 11 it wouldn’t be fair to run him when he is not 100%.”
Joes Edge, who is now the clear 8-1 favourite from 9s with totesport, had the finishing touches put to his preparation on Redcar beach.
“It all went grand. We just give them a day out and it is something a bit different for them, and they enjoy it,” said Murphy.
“He’s definitely got the best chance of any of my previous National runners, by a long, long way. It is the first time everything has fallen into place for any of mine.”
Venetia Williams, the trainer of The Outlier and Sonevafushi, has also confirmed both as intended runners.
“They’re both in good order and I don’t think the ground will be that significant for either of them,” she said.
“Neither has run over the distance and, when you are going four and a half miles, I think good going could well help them.”
Although totesport already have Joes Edge as their market leader, they expect the 10-year-old to shorten even further in the next 72 hours.
Spokesman Damian Walker said: “Money continues to pour in for Joes Edge and he is already a big loser for the firm.
“The horse is well handicapped after his Cheltenham win, will love the likely fast ground and will be supported by the once-a-year punters on the day given his popular name.”
John Smith’s Grand National: totesport bet: 8-1 Joes Edge, 9-1 Point Barrow, 12-1 Dun Doire, 14-1 Hedgehunter, Numbersixvalverde, 16-1 Billyvoddan, Bothar Na, Eurotrek, Idle Talk, L’Ami, McKelvey, Simon, 20-1 Bewleys Berry, Liberthine, 25-1 Clan Royal, Longshanks, Monkerhostin, 28-1 Royal Auclair, Silver Birch, 33-1 bar.
