RACING: Commanche Court was yesterday declared a probable runner in the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse this Monday.
Trainer Ted Walsh gave the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up the go ahead to try and win the three miles, five furlong test for a second time.
"I'd say it was yielding at the moment - the slow side of good. If it stays this way he'll run," Walsh said after walking the course yesterday afternoon.
Commanche Court carried 11st 4lb to a 10-lengths victory over Foxchapel King two years ago and would bid to become the first horse since Brown Lad in 1976 to be a dual winner of the Fairyhouse feature.
He has been allotted 12st this time and he would have to give upwards of 20lb to his rivals headed by last year's second, Rathbawn Prince, who is next in the handicap on 10st 8lb.
Noel Chance is expecting a big run from Beyond The Pale in the valuable Goffs Land Rover Bumper at Fairyhouse on Tuesday. The four-year-old was a highly-promising fourth of 23 behind Mel Blue on his debut at Newbury four weeks ago and has pleased his trainer since then.
Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh yesterday called for an all-weather track to be provided to meet a need in Irish racing and to facilitate the preparation of horses for racing abroad on artificial surfaces.
"It is a shortcoming in Irish racing that there is no all-weather track here and in the relatively near future I would like to see that situation rectified now that so much government money has gone into the sport," he said.
Tony McCoy said yesterday that he would probably ride Blowing Wind in the Aintree Grand National tomorrow week.
