RACING NEWS:CHAMPION TRAINER Willie Mullins is set to be mob-handed in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National as he pursues a first victory in the famous Easter Monday highlight at Fairyhouse.
Mullins could have up to eight runners in the €250,000 National which his father, Paddy, won on four occasions over three decades.
They include the JP McManus-owned Arbor Supreme as well as the mare Emma Jane who is in line for a €50,000 bonus if she can add Monday’s race to her last victory in the Leinster National at Naas.
Also in the running to be left in the National at today’s important forfeit stage are Ballytrim, the former Thyestes winner Homer Wells as well as the versatile mare Pomme Tiepy.
“We have 10 in at the moment but Snowy Morning won’t run and Taipans Way might be doubtful. We could keep him for a handicap at Punchestown,” said Mullins yesterday.
“But the others like Arbor Supreme, Emma Jane and Ballytrim are all types that need to go that trip.
“We will see closer to the time but they are all in there.”
Mullins also hasn’t ruled out Cousin Vinny from running in Sunday’s Rathbarry and Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle over two miles. The beaten Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite endured a less than ideal trip to Cheltenham last month and didn’t eat or drink for a couple of days at Prestbury Park before finishing fifth to Go Native in the festival opener.
However, he is among a team of five Mullins possibles for Easter Sunday’s Grade Two which also includes Kempes, a disappointing 12th in that Supreme after an early mistake, in an entry of 19 horses after yesterday’s forfeit stage.
“Cousin Vinny could run. He might get in nicely in a race like that. We will have to see,” said the champion trainer who will also chase a first ever victory in the Easter Sunday highlight, the €100,000 Powers Gold Cup.
Mullins has four of the 14 entries remaining in the two-and-a-half-mile race and he added: “They are all entitled to run but we will do a bit of work with Jayo first before deciding about him. Barker would run I’d say, Golden Silver will run and so will Deutschland,” he said.
Trafford Lad, winner of the Drinmore Chase over the course and distance in November, will attempt to win the race again for trainer Dusty Sheehy who scored with Justified three years ago.
Noel Meade, a winner with Thari in 2003, has the option of running Aran Concerto while Paul Nolan’s promising novice Joncol could be joined by his stable companion Moskova.
A total of 21 entries are in the two-and-a-half-mile Irish Stallion Farms Mares Novice Hurdle including the Colm Murphy-trained Voler La Vedette.
Murphy also has the option of bringing Zaarito back into action against Cousin Vinny in the Grade Two novice hurdle on Sunday.
Co Monaghan trainer Oliver Brady is hoping for some Grade One consolation at Punchestown later this month when Ebadiyan lines up for the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle.
Ebadiyan ran out at the second last flight when leading the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and subsequently ran second to Zarinava in a flat race at the Curragh last Sunday.
“There were only the two of them in it at the end and when you consider he gave the mare 10lb, and she’s a year older than him, it was a good effort,” Brady said yesterday.
“He has come out of it without a bother and he goes to Punchestown where I expect him to run a big race,” he added.
