THE RYANAIR chief Michael O’Leary wants to win the Aintree Grand National more than any other race and an ante-post gamble appears to be developing around War Of Attrition’s chances of doing just that on Saturday week.
O’Leary’s 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was a general 33 to 1 shot before the weekend but is now less than half those odds with most firms.
War Of Attrition’s trainer Mouse Morris has confirmed the National is the star chaser’s target and has also pointed out how favourably handicapped the former Gold Cup hero is compared to another O’Leary-owned Liverpool hope Hear The Echo.
After cutting War Of Attrition to 16 to 1 yesterday, a William Hill spokesperson said: “Be under no illusions this isn’t just patriotic money as punters are backing War Of Attrition on both sides of the Irish Sea. He now rates our second biggest loser behind My Will and the gamble shows no signs of subsiding.”
War Of Attrition was taken out of the Cheltenham Gold Cup a fortnight ago due to a slight setback but although it is three years since his finest hour, there was an even longer gap of four years between L’Escargot winning the Gold Cup in 1971 and knocking Red Rum off his Aintree perch in 1975.
There has also been National support in recent days for the Willie Mullins-trained Irish Invader as the champion trainer pursues a second success in the Aintree spectacular after Hedgehunter’s victory in 2005.
“He has been mostly running at two and two and a half miles but his pedigree says he stays and he is a very relaxed horse,” Mullins said yesterday.
“Whoever rides him will I imagine be able to put him to sleep for the first two and a half miles and then ride a race. He is a great jumper and it is all to play for.”
The Mullins-trained Snowy Morning, third to Comply Or Die last year, has been largely disappointing this season but the trainer added: “With a bit of sun on his back I hope he can return to his best.”
Snowy Morning remains a general 20 to 1 shot for Aintree with Irish Invader on 25 to 1.
Mullins also reported that his former Cheltenham winner Fiveforthree could take on Al Eile, Celestial Halo and Co in the Aintree Hurdle if ground conditions at Liverpool are suitable.
Last year’s Dewhurst Stakes winner Intense Focus is among the seven entries for Sunday’s 2,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown.
The mile Group Three event has a history of unveiling classic winners including the Dermot Weld pair Refuse To Bend (2003) and Grey Swallow (2004) while the subsequent Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Saffron Walden scored 10 years ago.
Intense Focus, who completed a Dewhurst hat-trick for Jim Bolger last October, is joined by his stable companion Vocalised, a course winner, while the Futurity third Grand Ducal has been nominated as a likely starter by Aidan O’Brien who also has Born To Be King and Hail Caesar in the race.
Last year’s Breeders’ Cup runner-up Heart Shaped is the likely Ballydoyle number one in the seven furlong 1,000 Guineas trial on the same card. Also included in Sunday’s Group Three are the David Wachman’s Chintz as well the course winner Luminous Eyes.
The sole British-trained entry is Kevin Ryan’s Undaunted Affair, third to Cuis Ghaire in a Group Three at Naas last June.
Leopardstown reported the going yesterday to be good to yielding although there is an unsettled forecast for the rest of the week.
Eddie Lynam has decided not to run Duff in Saturday’s Golden Shaheen at the Dubai World Cup card at Nad Al Sheba and will instead wait for the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday week.
“We chickened out of Dubai but if the ground is decent we will look at the Gladness. He needs quick ground and the aim will be to try and win a Group race through the summer,” Lynam said yesterday.
The €4.4 million Dubai World Cup is the world’s most valuable race and it will be shown live on TG4 on Saturday afternoon.
The programme runs from 1.30pm to 6.00pm and will include six races, including the big one which is off at 5.30pm.
