MICHAEL O’LEARY managed to get Mary Coughlan to the negotiating table but no such option looks open to the Ryanair boss with the English handicapper after War Of Attrition was ruled out of the Aintree Grand National by his trainer Mouse Morris yesterday.
The National is the race that O’Leary wants to win more than any other but War Of Attrition was given a mark of 11st 1lb at yesterday’s weights publication and Morris didn’t bother to hide his disappointment with that.
“I think with that weight they are basically saying they don’t want us to run,” said Morris who has masterminded a spectacular return to form over hurdles this season by his 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.
The trio of Alberta’s Run, Madison Du Berlais and Jim Dreaper’s Notre Pere share topweight on 11-10 but the manner in which War Of Attrition’s weight was calculated was questioned by Morris.
“If Alberta’s Run is rated 164 and we are getting 9lb that means he’s rating us 155,” the Co Tipperary trainer said. “I entered our horse in a handicap chase at Sandown the other week and they rated him 149 so I don’t know where they came up with 11-1 to be honest.” Morris added: “The plan now is to go straight for the World Hurdle and then probably have his last race at Punchestown in either the Guinness Gold Cup or the big staying hurdle race.”
War Of Attrition is due to be retired at the end of this season.
Jim Dreaper was less surprised by Notre Pere’s impost and said: “It is more or less as we expected. We’ll put up with it. The National is one of the options. If it is heavy ground he could still go for the Gold Cup but he might run at Fairyhouse (Bobbyjo Chase) on Saturday.”
However another Irish trainer left disappointed by the weights was Colin McBratney whose Galway Plate winner Ballyholland, for whom Andrew McNamara has already been booked, was given 11st.
