Alcapone stays on for encouraging win

Alcapone boosted his Martell Cognac Grand National prospects with victory in the Cashel Fine Arts Chase at Thurles today.

Leading before the second last in the hands of Barry Geraghty, the 7-1 chance stayed on too strongly for 9-4 favourite Adamant Approach to win by two lengths.

Trainer Mouse Morris is considering the Aintree showpiece on April 3 for the 10-year-old.

He said: “It’s a possibility that Alcapone could go for the Aintree National. A two-and-a-half mile horse is often the ideal type of horse for that race.”

Geraghty, who had been denied victory in the opener when clear leader Eurolink Rooster fell at the last flight, added: “He half missed the last but I never thought he was going to be beaten. He picked up well on the run-in.”

Another Aintree possible, Davids Lad never got in the two-and-a-quarter mile contest and finished well beaten.

His trainer Tony Martin said: “He’s just not sparkling at the moment. If he did come back right there is plenty of time to have him right for Aintree.

“His fitness level is fairly good at the moment but he’ll have to show a bit more sparkle.”

Trainer Willie Mullins revealed that runner-up Adamant Approach could go to Cheltenham.

He said: “Ruby (Walsh) felt that the ground was too dead for him. He may go for the Cathcart now.”

Mullins and Walsh gained handsome compensation when taking the richest race on the card, the €60,000 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle, with Kim Fontaine.

A change of tactics worked on the six-year-old, who was held up instead of being up with the pace.

Walsh had to work on the 7-2 second favourite from a long way out but it paid off as they wore down Geraghty’s mount Strike Back on the run-in to win by a length.

“I thought we nearly overdid the new tactics as he missed a couple of hurdles,” said Mullins.

The Carlow trainer revealed why he took Kim Fontaine out of the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

“That could have been a little hot for him. I’ll look at Fairyhouse and Punchestown for him now,” he added.

Michael Hourigan, trainer of Beef Or Salmon, reported himself “very pleased” with a piece of work Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup hope did, accompanied by two others at Cork racecourse earlier in the day.

Timmy Murphy was aboard for the exercise and the Cheltenham preparations will be completed on Friday week.