Irish reaction to National weights
“Recently Irish horses have done really, really well,” he said.
“The Irish Grand National and the Thyestes are often the key races.
“This year Bluesea Cracker (10st 4lb) won the Irish National and Oscar Time (10st 9lb) won the Paddy Power and both have lovely racing weights.
“Oscar Time is a very impressive horse. He has been highly tried but has a great weight. He will love the trip but I’m not so sure about the ground, which is a huge concern.
“But of the Irish horses, he might be the one who is best handicapped.”
“He’s got the same weight as last year. We’ll have to put up with it, but I’d have liked to see him with a couple of pounds lower. He’ll run in the Bobbyjo next Wednesday.
“In Compliance is warming up nicely for it. There’s a conditions race coming up for him at Thurles in the next 10 days and he’ll probably go there.”
“It looks like he’s rated me a few pounds above my Irish mark which I’m not too happy about given that I haven’t run the horse over fences since I’ve had him.
“But, at the end of the day, if he ran he’s got less than 11st which is a nice racing weight. After that, you just need all the luck in the world!”
“That will do. Backstage won his point-to-point at the weekend. He might have one run under Rules before the National.
“Nedzer’s Return qualifies for the Fox Hunter’s as well so I’ll have to discuss that with the owners. Dev won’t get in.”
“I’d be happy with that, hopefully we get him there now as we had a setback the other week.
“He’s only a week away from going back into work so he’s going the right way. We wouldn’t have time for a run so it will be straight there.
“I was expecting more so that’s a pleasant surprise. He’s only eight so hopefully he’ll be going back for a few years yet.
“I led in Numbersixvalverde for my cousin (Martin Brassil) and we were drunk for a week after that!”
