RACING NEWS:FOUR COMMANDERS will attempt to build on his big-race pedigree in Easter Monday's Ladbrokes Irish Grand National and Mouse Morris believes his high-class novice has a lot going for him in the €250,000 highlight.
The Michael O’Leary-owned horse is a full-brother to the dual-King George and Gold Cup winner Kicking King and ran a fine race at the Cheltenham Festival last month when third to Teaforthree in the four-mile National Hunt Chase.
Morris has been aiming Four Commanders at the Irish National ever since. And this will be latched on to by many punters considering his record as one of the few men to ride and train a winner of the Fairyhouse feature.
The Adrian Maxwell-trained Billycan was guided to National glory by Morris all of 35 years ago while Hear The Echo carried O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud colours to success in 2008.
“Hear The Echo was a novice. So was Billycan and novices do have a very good record in the race. I don’t know why that is, maybe they’re lighter weighted in general but whatever it is it doesn’t seem to be a disadvantage to them in the National,” Morris said yesterday.
Four Commanders may never be as good as his illustrious brother. But he ran a notably game race in Cheltenham’s four-mile marathon, an effort that came on the back of a placed effort in Grade Two company in the Ten Up Chase at Navan.
“He’s come out of Cheltenham great, unbelievably well in fact for a young horse. We know stamina won’t be an issue and he likes fast ground. I just hope they don’t water,” Morris added.
Four Commanders is a 12 to 1 second favourite in most ante-post lists behind the JP McManus-owned favourite Groody Hill. Morris also has Beckett Rock in the National but will wait until that horse ran at Thurles today before deciding whether or not he makes a quick follow-up.
Morris’s hopes that Fairyhouse won’t water have already been scuppered as the track authorities put 10mms on last Friday and plan to put more on during Thursday.
“At the moment I would say we are good National Hunt ground and hopefully that’s what we’ll have for the meeting,” said Fairyhouse manager Peter Roe. “There isn’t expected to be great drying over the next few days so we will probably hold off on any more watering until Thursday.”
Roe also indicated that the JP McManus-owned pair of Alfie Sheerin and Aigle D’Or are the most likely cross-channel travellers for the National with many of the other entries requiring softer going conditions.
Sunday’s Grade One feature will be the Powers Gold Cup which is set to host a clash between Flemenstar and the rapidly-progressive Gigginstown hope Rathlin, who has winning course form at Fairyhouse.
“Better ground should help him and he definitely runs on Sunday,” confirmed Rathlin’s trainer Morris.
Saturday’s feature at Cork’s Flat fixture will be the six-furlong Listed Cork Stakes which has attracted an 20 entries.
Dermot Weld is one for one with his new recruit Croisultan already this season and the former Belgrave Stakes winner is an intended starter at the weekend.
Six of the 20 entered in the race are three-year-olds, including Mick Mulvany’s Tough As Nails who has form that ties in with the likes of Power and the Middle Park winner Crusade in 2011.
Another member of the Classic generation is Mark Johnston’s Bannock. The three-year-old failed to fire in the Cambridge Trophy at Doncaster last Saturday after being driven half-way but weaking one furlong out. However, he was a good third to Gusto on the all-weather at Lingfield previously.
