Racing:Jonjo O'Neill's Synchronised heads a maximum field of 25 runners in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday — with ante-post favourite Beautiful Sound the second reserve. Synchronised is one of six runners for leading owner JP McManus.
The famous green and gold silks will also be carried by Quiscover Fontaine, See U Bob, Sunnyhillboy, Glenstal Abbey and Nicky Henderson’s Quantitativeeasing, with Tony McCoy choosing the ride the latter.
Gordon Elliott’s Beautiful Sound was last seen finishing third in the Byrne Group Plate at the Cheltenham Festival, but needs two horses to come out of the field to get a run.
Elliott will saddle Backstage, 10th in the Grand National at Aintree earlier this month. Elliott is keeping his fingers crossed Beautiful Sound makes the final field and is also hoping Backstage will be able to show his true colours after his run at Aintree.
“Beautiful Sound is an intended runner and with the ground drying out we might have a chance (of getting a run). We’re very happy with him,” said Elliott. “Backstage seems fine but we won’t really know until we run him back.”
Pomme Tiepy is first reserve, with Hold The Pin the third and final horse on the substitute bench. Other major contenders include Prince Erik, Some Target, and David Pipe’s Or Noir De Somoza.
Another horse who completed Aintree’s Grand National course is Adrian Maguire’s Golden Kite. The nine-year-old passed the post in 16th place on Merseyside and his trainer is keeping his fingers crossed that run has not left its mark.
“He seems to have come out of Aintree surprisingly well and we’re taking a chance,” said Maguire. “It is a chance we’re taking and we’re just hoping Aintree hasn’t left its mark. If it hasn’t, we’d be hoping for a big run.
“The faster the ground the better for him and he seems very well, so we’ll see.”