THE English challenge for Monday's Jameson Irish Grand National is taking shape, with Jenny Pitman's Mudahim stepping in smoothly to replace the Midlands Natonal winner, Seven Towers, who Mary Reveley took out of the race yesterday.
Reveley will instead aim Seven Towers at the Scottish Grand National at Ayr and said yesterday: "There are too many ifs and buts about going to Ireland with him. The race distance isn't really far enough and he would need bottomless ground to help him."
In contrast, Pitman will try for the Irish-Scottish National double with the Racing Post Chase winner, Mudahim. The Lambourn trainer withdrew Nahthen Lad from the Fairyhouse race yesterday, when other big names such as Suny Bay, Flashing Steel and Time For A Run also came out.
As a result, English-trained horses fill the three places in the ante-post betting behind the favourite Panillon.
Both David Nicholson and Gordon Richards were yesterday hoping for cut in the ground for Percy Smollett and The Grey Monk, respectively but both are intended runners at this stage.
Britain's five Dubai World Cup challengers lost their first battle yesterday when they drew low starting stall positions for Saturday's showpiece.
