National still long-term aim for Dun Doire
Tony Martin’s eight-year-old headed ante-post lists for the four-and-a-half-mile marathon at one point, but the decent ground did not play to his strengths and he was eventually pulled up.
Dun Doire has come out of the race unscathed, however, and could return for another crack in the future if the ground swings in his favour.
Martin said: “He’s fine – not a bother. He looked after himself really and he’s 100 per cent afterwards.
“He’s just too slow on that ground unfortunately and we were hoping he’d prove a point. He did that, but in the wrong way!
“That’s him for the year now, but we’d have to consider coming back for the National next year.
“Red Marauder won it that year when it was bottomless (2001) and if we got rain we’d look silly for not having him there.
“He’s only eight so hopefully there are plenty of good years left in him yet.”
Meanwhile, trainer John Queally says it is “unlikely” Al Eile will contest Saturday’s Samsung Electronics Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.
Queally was thrilled to see his charge land a second Baltika Beer Aintree Hurdle at the weekend, but does not want to rush his stable star back into action too quickly.
“I had him entered in the Scottish Champion and I wouldn’t make up my mind until Wednesday, but I’d think that is unlikely,” said Queally.
“He was a bit tired when he got home and I suppose that’s just with the heat and all the travelling, so with just a week in between, it might be asking a bit much of him. The Flat beckons for him now and you’d have thought he’d been around for a lifetime but he’s still only seven.”
Al Eile had been sidelined with niggling problems for much of the campaign, but Queally reports him to be fine following Saturday’s exploits.
“He’s absolutely fine and he’s 110%. I’m very happy with him,” he added.
“It was great to see him come back like that as we’ve had a very frustrating year with him. He might even be a bit better than he was judging by Saturday.”
Irish Grand National runner-up Nine De Sivola will be seeking to go one better in the Coral-sponsored Scottish version at Ayr on Saturday.
Ferdy Murphy’s charge has yet to win over fences, but has some smart form in the book. “He came out of the Irish National fantastic,” said Murphy.
“He’d been running on heavy ground, but he’s a lovely mover and I actually thought he’d be a bit better when we got good ground.
“With the weather as it is it will be quite fast up at Ayr,” he said .
There were 45 entries left at the five-day declaration stage, with only three from Ireland.
Michael Hourigan’s A New Story, Ian Duncan’s Another Rum and Tony Martin’s Newbay Prop, but the latter is unlikely to travel due to the quick ground.
“I doubt he’ll go and I’d say we’ll wait for Punchestown with him,” said Martin.
Coral Scottish Grand National; Sponsors bet: 6-1 Character Building, 8-1 Nine De Sivola, Rambling Minster, 10-1 Baron Windrush, 12-1 Parsons Legacy, Wee Robbie, D’Argent, Newbay Prop, 14-1 Mon Mome, Miko de Beauchene, 16-1 Idle Talk Halcon Genelardais, Drombeag, 20-1 A New Story, Napolitain, Run For Paddy, 25-1 bar.
