Hourigan thinks A New Story can add a new chapter

FAIRYHOUSE COUNTDOWN:A NEW Story bounced back to winning form with a vengeance at Cheltenham, and he and trainer Michael Hourigan now have a score to settle with the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

Hourigan endured the frustration of having the second (Church Island) and third (A New Story) in last year’s National, behind Niche Market, and he takes both back for another crack at next week’s €250,000 highlight, along with talented novice Dancing Tornado.

After a number of relatively barren years at the top level since the halcyon days of Beef Or Salmon, Hourigan tasted the big time again at Cheltenham earlier in the month with A New Story’s 25 to 1 shock success in the Cross Country Chase.

It might have been four-and-a- half years, and almost 50 races, since the veteran A New Story had won a race of any description, but there was no hint of fluke about that success under Adrian Heskin.

Hourigan reports the horse to be “A1” ahead of what will be a fifth attempt on the Irish National.

A New Story also ran third in 2006 behind Point Barrow, fourth two years ago to Hear The Echo, and was brought down in 2007 in the race won by Butler’s Cabin.

Having tasted success again at Cheltenham, though, Hourigan is hopeful it may be fifth time lucky.

“He’s a Cheltenham winner now so he might be getting better!” the Patrickwell trainer said yesterday.

“He has got a lovely racing weight, spot on the mark at 10st. And he is in A1 form.”

Church Island made much of the running in last year’s National, only to be run out of victory by the English raider Niche Market. He has also finished runner-up in the Kerry National since, but may not be suited by the ground if it remains heavy.

“He would like the ground slightly better but he is in good form,” said Hourigan. “Along with Dancing Tornado, I believe I’m going there with three good chances. It’s a race I’ve never won before, but we have chances this time.”

In contrast, Arthur Moore has a long winning association with the Irish National, having ridden the 1971 winner, King’s Sprite, and trained Feathered Gale to score in 1996.

“But there have been a lot of placed horses, too,” Moore said yesterday. “Amble Speedy was unlucky, Feathered Leader was second as a novice and Have A Barney was placed a few times. So we could do with another winner.”

Moore hopes to run both Stewarts House and last year’s Galway Plate runner-up, Knock On The Head, on Monday, and said: “The ground could be soft enough for Stewarts House but the plan is for both to run.”

The Jonjo O’Neill-trained pair, Sunnyhillboy and the Midlands Grand National winner Synchronised, were prominent in ante-post lists yesterday, but both JP McManus-owned horses have been ruled out of Fairyhouse.

“Both are finished for the season,” said McManus’s racing manager, Frank Berry. “We are looking at Knock On The Head and Dancing Tornado for Fairyhouse. Jered could run too, but soft ground might not suit him. I’d say Tony McCoy will come over to ride one of them, but we will see what way the weights shape up first.”

McManus was a National winner with Butlers Cabin and also in 1983 with Bit Of A Skite.

There will be an important forfeit stage today for the National, and final declarations for the big race will be made on Good Friday.

The ground at Fairyhouse yesterday was “heavy”, although the forecast for the rest of the week is not as bleak as it was on Monday.

“We have had sleet and snow showers all morning and we are told the worst of the weather will be up until Wednesday morning,” said Fairyhouse manager Caroline Gray. We are being told to expect up to 20mm of precipitation. But after that it will be just showery and cold.”

The ground was not encouraging Noel Meade in hopes to run last year’s Powers Gold Cup winner Aran Concerto in the National, so the former champion trainer, an Irish National winner with The Bunny Boiler in 2002, is set to rely on Oscar Looby and Across The Bay.

“Aran Concerto doesn’t seem to be the force he was and has struggled all season to find anything like his form from before. He worked this morning with the Irish National in mind, but the way the weather is going it will be heavy so he will probably miss it,” Meade said.

“Oscar Looby won over three miles in Naas so heavy ground doesn’t look like a problem,” he added. “Across The Bay also stays well and goes on cut. He has only had a couple of runs over fences, but he has been good and I am happy to let him take his chance.”