Dun Doire might be the stand-out favourite for Monday's Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National but uncertainty over who will ride the horse means his trainer, Tony Martin, will be anxiously looking over the list of horses left in the race after today's forfeit stage.
Martin admitted yesterday that jockey arrangements are still up in the air regarding Dun Doire, who has been further backed into 3 to 1 favourite to stretch his remarkable winning streak to seven in a row in the Easter Monday feature at Fairyhouse.
During that streak Dun Doire has been ridden by four jockeys, including Ruby Walsh in last month's William Hill Trophy at Cheltenham and Paul Carberry in January's Thyestes Chase at Gowran. However, other commitments may yet keep them off the favourite next week.
"It all depends on what Paul might have to ride for Noel Meade and if Ruby will be on Our Ben for Willie Mullins," Martin said yesterday. "I would be happy for either one of them to ride my horse. I'm sure they would love to ride him too. But we won't know what everybody is doing until at least the scratchings stage.
"I haven't thought yet about getting anyone else. I just hope one of the lads becomes available.
"I'm happy with the horse and it looks like the ground might suit us. If it stays on the yielding side we'll be happy. I just hope things don't dry up too much. If Forget The Past runs we would have 10st 8lb on our back, which would be a good weight to carry."
Dun Doire, who will be attempting to secure Martin a second National after the victory of Davids Lad five years ago, will not be joined in the big race by his stable companion Ross River, who will instead run in a hurdle race at Fairyhouse the same day.
Significantly, Cashmans yesterday reported substantial support for the Noel Meade hope No Half Sessions, who has been backed into 16 to 1 from 25 to 1.
Willie Mullins intends to make a call on Our Ben's National participation on Friday, and yesterday he kept the SunAlliance Chase disappointment in the Powers Gold Cup field.
A total of 15 horses remain in the novice feature, which has been moved from its traditional Tuesday slot to Sunday.
Missed That and Davenport Democrat are other Mullins contenders for the Grade One pot and they have been joined by the PJ Moriarty winner The Railway Man as well as Justified, who was forced out of the Cheltenham festival through illness.
Mullins has also left his star four-year-old hurdler Mister Hight and Quatre Heures in the Grade Two Rathbarry and Glenview Studs Festival Novice Hurdle over two and a half miles.
The older-horse brigade among the 21 left in the race are led by the prolific Mounthenry as well as the Michael Hourigan- trained Mossbank.
The ground at Fairyhouse was officially soft yesterday but officials at the track are hopeful the going will dry out somewhat in time for the Easter festival.
"We are to get some more rain up to Thursday but then that will be it," reported the course manager, Dick Shiel.
"I would be hoping that 'yielding' will be appearing in the description on the day itself, either yielding completely or yielding to soft."
Colm Murphy has confirmed his star mare Feathard Lady will miss the Punchestown festival and will not run again until next season.
"We were hoping to have her back for Punchestown but it was clear it was coming too quick," he said. "Her injury took longer to heal than we thought and we've decided to call it a day for the season.
"All being well she will be back early next season. She's too good to take any chances with."
IRISH NATIONAL BETTING: (Cashmans bet) - 3 Dun Doire, 8 Forget The Past, 10 Ross River, 12 GVA Ireland, 14 Banasan, Our Ben, Point Barrow, 16 No Half Session, Model Son and Far From Trouble, 20 Bar.
