ANOTHER EXCUSE led an Irish one-two in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter on Saturday. Trained in Cork by Eugene O'Sullivan and ridden by Brendan Powell, the eight-year-old finished a distance clear of Arthur Moore's Feathered Gale to take the £32,000 prize.

Another Excuse, sent on at the 19th of the 24 fences, looked to have a fight on his hands when heavily backed 11 to 4 favourite Killeshin went in pursuit turning for home.

However, that rival capsized at the penultimate obstacle to leave Another Excuse to return to frenzied celebrations from his nine-man syndicate.

As his owners launched into another rendition of The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee, O'Sullivan identified the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday as the gelding's probable next target.

"We'll take him home and see how he is, and then we'll put him in the Irish National," said O'Sullivan, who trained Lovely Citizen to win the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham in 1991.

"Blinkers made a big difference to him and Mark Dwyer said he didn't concentrate in the Eider Chase at Newcastle. The owners were made an offer for him earlier in the week but they turned the money down.

"I told Brendan to go on two out and I nearly had a heart attack when I saw him in the lead earlier, but he had plenty in the locker if the other horse had stood up."

Garrylough may run at the English Grand National fixture after completing a hat-trick in the EBF Tattersalls Mares' Novices' Chase Final.