First Gold tops Fairyhouse weights
Martell Cognac Cup winner First Gold heads the weights on 12st for the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National.
Francois Doumen’s back-to-form chaser is the first French-trained entry for the three miles five furlongs Fairyhouse race.
Davids Lad, whose owners the Eddie Joe’s Racing Syndicate recently failed in their Supreme Court appeal to have a 42-day ban incurred at Naas in February overturned, has been allotted 10st 10lbs and confirmed on course for the Easter Monday contest.
Trainer Tony Martin said: “He definitely runs. He’s in good form and definitely has a chance. Timmy Murphy will ride.”
Ted Walsh, who has 2000 winner Commanche Court (11st 7lbs) and Rince Ri (11st 3lbs) in the €170,000 contest, said: “Commanche Court is only a probable at this stage but Rince Ri is a definite runner providing we get some rain. If it‘s safe or better, Rince Ri will take part.”
Foxchapel King has second top weight of 11st 8lbs but his trainer Mouse Morris warned: “If it looked like he would have to carry 12st I’d say he would be doubtful and we’d look then either at the Heineken Chase at Punchestown or the attheraces Gold Cup at Sandown.”
Sean Treacy’s useful novice mare Be My Belle has 10st 4lbs and the trainer said: “We’ve kept her going with nothing else in mind but the Irish National and if the ground is on the soft side of good she will run.
“She worked well at the Curragh today but everything depends on the weather.”
Noel O’Brien, Ireland’s senior jumps handicapper, is delighted with the entries.
He said: “I must say it‘s a very high-class line-up. Having Foxchapel King, who has performed at the highest level, among the entries along with three previous winners namely Commanche Court, who finished runner-up in the 2002 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Davids Lad and The Bunny Boiler is great for the race.
“The likes of Takagi, multiple winner Moscow Express, Barrow Drive, who ran the best race of our novices at the Cheltenham Festival, Colonel Braxton and Rince Ri help make it a real quality race.
“The addition of recent Aintree winner First Gold is very exciting as he would be the first French-trained runner in an Irish handicap, while the British entries include a large proportion of high-class handicappers.”
There are 19 British-trained entries including Martell Cognac Grand National runners Chives, Killusty, Red Striker and Maximize, as well as Jonjo O’Neill’s Sudden Shock, winner of the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
