Irish Grand National:Wichita Lineman is on course to attempt to follow up his dramatic Cheltenham Festival victory in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National. The eight-year-old, who has been allotted 11st, was among 47 left in the €250,000 handicap chase over three miles, five furlongs at Fairyhouse on Monday.
Trainer Jonjo O'Neill reported JP McManus's gelding to be in fine form following the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase, in which he was given a brilliant ride by Tony McCoy.
"He's come out of Cheltenham well and is in great form and going to Fairyhouse in good shape," said the Jackdaws Castle handler. "He goes on any ground, except the extremes - not too fast or heavy.”
Dessie Hughes, successful with Timbera in 2003, has confirmed all four of his entries - Rare Bob (10st 5lb), Vic Venturi (10st 9lb), Justpourit (9st 12lb) and Oulart (9st 9lb).
"Rare Bob is probably my best except that he is only a novice in his first handicap, which is a bit of a big ask," said the County Kildare trainer. "But novices have got a good record in it and Oulart was second as a novice.”
Chelsea Harbour (10st 12lb) could make a quick reappearance after falling at the third fence in the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.
"He's come out of it surprisingly very good, so he'll more than likely take his chance next Monday in the Irish National," said trainer Tom Mullins. "He was a bit excited obviously the day after but we took some blood from him this morning and his regular rider rode him out.
"He's very good, so we might take a chance on Monday."
Tony Martin could have up to four runners - Royal County Star (10st 10lb), Drumconvis (10st 4lb), who was runner-up in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, and Newbay Prop (9st 8lb).
Hold The Pin (8st 12lb) is his other entry.
Willie Mullins has trimmed down his original 10 entries to four, including Arbor Supreme (10st 5lb) and Emma Jane (9st 12lb).
The Enda Bolger-trained Garde Champetre (10st 6lb), Charlie Swan's One Cool Cookie (10st 12lb) and Noel Meade's Casey Jones (10st 10lb) are other interesting contenders.
The ground at Fairyhouse remains good to yielding.
Racecourse general manager Caroline Gray said: “We had 3.2 millimetres of rain on Tuesday.
"It is dry today, with rain forecast for tonight and in the morning."