SUE BRAMALL'S Antonin handsomely advertised his Martell Grand National prospects with a runaway success in the Ericsson Grand National Trial at Punchestown yesterday.
Ladbrokes reacted to the French-bred gelding's return to form by shortening him to 14 to 1 co-favourite for Aintree. They have also taken Master Oats out of the betting, having seen the top weight lose touch with the winner and eventually pulled up before the third last by Norman Williamson.
Afterwards, trainer Kim Bailey hinted that the 1995 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner may have run his last race.
Backed down to 7 to 4 favourite, Master Oats was conceding two stone to Antonin but still moved up with what seemed a strong challenge six out. From that point onwards, though, he steadily dropped away, and trainer Bailey later declared: "Norman says it wasn't fitness or lack of ability that saw him struggle - he hadn't the heart for it in that ground.
"There's a possibility now he could be retired. In those conditions, he should have come home on the bridle and although he lost a shoe I would have expected him to do so much better in the soft ground he always relished."
Williamson, among the winners earlier on the card with the odds-on, Commanche Court for local trainer Ted Walsh, later explained: "Master Oats just didn't have the gears. The old Master Oats would have annihilated them in the mud."
Returned the 6 to 1 winner, having past the post with his ears pricked a distance ahead of King Of The Gales, Antonin will not have another run before Aintree according to Mrs Bramall, who trained in Yorkshire before moving her horses to Wexford last summer.
"All along this season Aintree has been his target. Indeed we backed him at 50 to 1 yesterday for Liverpool and if he gets good ground he should have an outstanding chance," she added.
Conor O'Dwyer got Antonin jumping fluently and would love to ride the horse at Aintree if he was free to do so. "He just jumped like a buck from fence to fence and must have a real live chance in the Martell Grand National if he jumps like that again.
"I might be riding New Co for Mouse Morris, but if that one doesn't go I'd love to be on Antonin," explained O'Dwyer.
Commanche Court booked his passage to Cheltenham for the Triumph Hurdle when following up his debut win over hurdles by beating Grimes easily in the opening event.
Private Peace sprang a 14 to 1 surprise in the Emerald Bloodstock Novice Hurdle, giving Richard Hughes an easy win on his first mount for Aidan O'Brien.
