Oj on course for National

Sir Oj will try to atone for his Cheltenham Festival fall in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.

Noel Meade’s charge came to grief four fences from home in the two-mile-five-furlong Ryanair Chase and he will be tackling the four-and-a-half-mile trip for the first time when he teams up with Paul Carberry again.

Meade will be seeking his first success in the world’s greatest steeplechase while Carberry has already tasted glory on Bobbyjo, trained by his father Tommy, in 1999.

“He’s definitely going to run in the National and Paul rides him,” said Meade.

Sir Oj has been allotted 10st 10lb and is 13lb better off in the National than in future handicaps. He is generally available at 33-1.

The nine-year-old was in good form over the winter, coming late to snatch the Robin Cook Memorial Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December and landing a Grade Two chase at Naas in February.

“He’s in good form. There have been no problems after Cheltenham. Everything’s good with him,” added the Navan trainer.