RACING:OSCAR TIME found only Ballabriggs too good in Saturday's Aintree Grand National and trainer Martin Lynch confirmed yesterday a return to Liverpool for another crack at the world's most famous chase in 2012 is the plan for his stable star.
“There are mixed emotions coming so close but I’m very proud of the horse. He took to it extremely well and was bought to win the race so all being well the obvious thing to do is go back next year,” Lynch said. “I would imagine he is finished for the season. He was put in the Irish National but I don’t see him running in that. We will re-group and see about next year,” the Co Westmeath-based trainer added.
Oscar Time is among 88 horses entered for the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse in 13 days’ time and when the race weights were unveiled yesterday the big-race sponsors installed the Michael O’Leary-owned Beautiful Sound as their 7 to 1 favourite for the Easter Monday highlight.
O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud colours were carried to Irish National glory by Hear The Echo in 2008 and the champion owner has eight entries for the 140th running of the Fairyhouse marathon. His big rival in the owners table, JP McManus, has 11 entries, including the Welsh National winner Synchronised (11st 8lb)
Ireland’s champion trainer Willie Mullins has never won the race but has a strong team of 10 entries that includes Saturday’s beaten Aintree favourite The Midnight Club whose previous start at Fairyhouse saw him win the Bobbyjo Chase.
Ballabriggs has been handed topweight of 11st 10lb for the race but is not likely to race again this season after his Aintree heroics. Niche Market, a 33 to 1 winner of the Irish National two years ago, has been entered again by British champion trainer Paul Nicholls.
The Turf Club handicapper Noel O’Brien has managed to include 65 of the 88 entries in the handicap proper. “With the vast majority of the entrants set to carry between 11st 10lb and the minimum mark of 9st 10lb, there will probably not be any requirement for the weights to go up.
“Realistically I would be happy with 11st 8lb as the top weight in the race, having dropped a couple of horses 1lb or 2lb because the extreme distance of the race and the pressure that this puts on the top-rated contenders makes the concession to the lower weighted runners that much more difficult,” O’Brien said yesterday.
“None of the 10 winners since Commanche Court carried 11st 4lb to success in 2000 has been burdened with more than 10st 12lb (Timbera in 2003). With so many horses already in the handicap proper, this adds to the quality of what could be a very competitive renewal,” he added.
The three-day Fairyhouse Easter festival begins on Easter Sunday with the featured Grade One Powers Gold Cup attracting 26 entries yesterday.
The sole British hopeful could be Nicky Henderson’s Quantitativeeasing who is also entered in the National while Willie Mullins’s Quel Esprit also holds entries in the two big races. Paul Nolan has left in his Cheltenham festival winner Noble Prince.
Dermot Weld has two chances – Majestic Concorde and Prince Erik – to win again a race he scored in with Perris Valley in 1988 although he has indicated Majestic Concorde could appear next on the flat.
Fairyhouse’s manager, Peter Roe, reported yesterday: “The going is currently good to yielding and we are very happy with ground conditions following the recent dry spell. The forecast is unsettled later this week with the track in excellent condition.”
BETTING: (Ladbrokes): 7 Beautiful Sound, 8 The Midnight Club, 10 Synchronised, Chicago Grey, Majestic Concorde and Prince Erik, 14 Bar.
