RACING: Alcapone boosted his Grand National prospects with victory in the Cashel Fine Arts Chase at Thurles yesterday.
Leading before the second last in the hands of Barry Geraghty, the 7 to 1 chance stayed on too strongly for 9 to 4 favourite Adamant Approach to win by two lengths.
Trainer Mouse Morris is considering the Aintree showpiece on April 3rd for the 10-year-old.
He said: "It's a possibility that Alcapone could go for the Aintree National. A two-and-a-half mile horse is often the ideal type of horse for that race."
Geraghty, who had been denied victory in the opener when clear leader Eurolink Rooster fell at the last flight, added: "He half missed the last but I never thought he was going to be beaten. He picked up well on the run-in."
Another Aintree possible, Davids Lad, never got in the two-and-a-quarter mile contest and finished well beaten.
His trainer Tony Martin said: "He's just not sparkling at the moment. If he did come back right there is plenty of time to have him right for Aintree.
"His fitness level is fairly good at the moment but he'll have to show a bit more sparkle."
Trainer Willie Mullins revealed that runner-up Adamant Approach could go to Cheltenham.
He said: "Ruby (Walsh) felt that the ground was too dead for him. He may go for the Cathcart now." Mullins and Walsh gained handsome compensation when taking the richest race on the card, the €60,000 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle, with Kim Fontaine.
A change of tactics worked on the six-year-old, who was held up instead of being up with the pace.
Walsh had to work on the 7 to 2 second favourite from a long way out but it paid off as they wore down Geraghty's mount Strike Back on the run-in to win by a length. "I thought we nearly overdid the new tactics as he missed a couple of hurdles," said Mullins.
The Co Carlow trainer revealed why he took Kim Fontaine out of the Royal and SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
"That could have been a little hot for him. I'll look at Fairyhouse and Punchestown for him now," he added.
• Richard Johnson was taken to hospital for precautionary X-rays on his right arm following a fall at Taunton yesterday.
He was unseated from Terek at the third last fence in the Monty Beaumont Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase.
After being treated at the track, Johnson left to go to Somerset and Taunton Hospital with his right arm in a sling.
He said: "I got trod on right on the elbow. I can move everything and my fingers are fine so I am hoping it is just bad bruising but I am going to go to hospital anyway just to be sure.
"I might miss tomorrow but provided doctors are happy I should be okay for Saturday." Johnson had been in tremendous form, completing a treble on Double Honour (4 to 9), Willie John Daly (4 to 9) and Bakiri (3 to 1) to take his total for the season to 163.
• A Cheltenham Festival Preview evening will take place in the Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co Kildare on Friday night, March 5th at 8 p.m.
The panel for the night includes jockeys Barry Gereghty and Conor O'Dwyer, trainers Tom Taaffe and Dessie Hughes, handicapper Noel O'Brien and journalists Tony O'Hehir and Damien McElroy.
Tickets are €20 and include free betting vouchers to that value and are available on the door. All proceeds from the evening will go to the Romanian Breadbasket Appeal charity. For further information contact: Lucy Donegan (01) 8205112.
