Takagi heading for National

Takagi booked his ticket for the Martell Cognac Grand National with an impressive victory in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Davy Russell’s mount (5-1), wearing blinkers for the first time, made all to beat the staying-on Alexander Banquet by two and a half lengths.

A pleased Edward O’Grady exclaimed: “Next stop Aintree!” and added: “He ran a cracker when finishing second to Cloudy Bay under top weight in the Troytown Chase at Navan, but disappointed subsequently in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park.

“The blinkers just helped him concentrate today and the hurdle race at Punchestown sharpened him up. Davy will be offered the ride in the Grand National.”

William Hill trimmed the nine-year-old to 33-1 from 40-1 for the Aintree marathon after his victory in this Grade Three chase.

Disappointment of the race was Ted Walsh’s Commanche Court, who pulled up before the fifth-last, having made a bad mistake seven fences from home.

The other Grade Three event on the card, the Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby Sale Juvenile Hurdle, was something of a Noel Meade benefit race, with the County Meath handler saddling the first two home for owner Des Sharkey.

Winner Power Elite (7-4) received a typically well-judged Paul Carberry ride to defeat Wild Passion by half a length. Meade intends sending the winner to Cheltenham for the JCB Triumph Hurdle, but the runner-up is unlikely to travel.