NOT since Tommy Carberry steered L'Escargot home to beat the legendary Red Rum in 1975 has an Irish trained horse won the Aintree Grand National. But there are six Irish runners in today's race and hopes are high.
Appropriately, it is Naas trainer Arthur Moore who provides the bulk of the team with three horses in the race. His father, Dan Moore, trained L'Escargot and in the giant Wylde Hide, Moore has one of the favourites in this year's National. Owned by the renowned gambler and prominent businessman, J.P. McManus, Wylde Hide is currently 9 to 1 for the race which captivates even those with little interest in racing.
Hardened punters have long since been to the betting shops. One gambler wagered £25,000 on Wylde Hide to win £400,000.
Champion jockey Charlie Swan will don McManus's green and gold colours but Arthur Moore will also be represented by Feathered, Gale (20 to 1) and Back Bar (66 to 1).
Another Irish runner, Antonin, (16 to 1), is trained by Ms Sue Bramall, originally from Yorkshire, but now training at Inch, Co Wexford. Conor O'Dwyer, hero of the 1996 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Imperial Call, takes the ride but like Wylde Hide, Antonin will relish any rain that might soften the ground.
The Irish team is completed by New Co (40 to 1) and Nuaffe (66 to 1) but they are among the outsiders in a race that will be seen by some 400 million worldwide.
This could be the year when that audience sees the Irish regain their "National" pride. Paddy Power, Bookmakers were last night quoting 10 to 3 on an Irish trained winner. The same firm was quoting 5 to 1 against a woman training the winner, and 10 to 1 against Jenny Pitman completing a National double - she trained the winner of the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
For punters wanting to bet on other aspects of the race, Paddy Power is going 250 to 1 against this year's race being declared void due to a false start. Odds of 500 to 1 are available on a streaker jumping Beecher's Brook during the race.
