Goonyella may be one of the favourites for the most valuable prize at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival but trainer
Jim Dreaper
has stressed his star stayer’s holiday target is the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.
Dreaper famously became the first Irish based trainer to win the Welsh marathon five years ago with Notre Pere and Goonyella is a best-priced 10/1 joint-favourite to repeat that feat in two week’s time
The horse is also at the top of the betting for the €190,000 Paddy Power Chase a day earlier at Leopardstown but a trip across the Irish Sea remains Goonyella’s first-choice.
“He’s still a young horse and it might be asking a bit much but he will like the distance (almost three miles and six furlongs) and there aren’t many top races at that trip,” Dreaper explained yesterday.
“Chepstow is the plan and he’s in the other race as a precaution more than anything else.”
Notre Pere won the Welsh National by seven lengths under Andrew Lynch in 2008 at odds of 16/1 and Dreaper added yesterday: “He was a big horse whereas this fella now is quite a handy horse. But the trip should suit him as he stays well.”
