Bewleys Berry to stop Irish challenge

GRAND NATIONAL PREVIEW:A DOZEN Irish-trained horses are set to try and secure a seventh John Smith's Aintree Grand National victory in a decade for Ireland but Bewleys Berry could conspire to produce a rather less green winners circle than has been normal in recent years after the world's most famous horse race.

Considering Bewleys Berry himself first emerged on the Wexford point-to-point scene, and his 26-year-old jockey Denis O'Regan is from Youghal in Co Cork, the Irish influence on this Durham-based challenge is hardly negligible. But in an unprecedented era of Aintree success for Irish raiders, this could be a year when the home team bite back.

Principal among them in terms of both form and sentiment will surely be the long-time ante-post favourite Cloudy Lane, himself ridden by Meath-born Jason Maguire, but who also carries one of the most famous Aintree names of all.

Donald McCain's father, Ginger, carved out his own unique myth here in the shape of the triple winner Red Rum (1973-74-77) and Amberleigh House in 2004.

Now his son looks to have the raw material to add even further to the McCain legend around these famous 30 fences.

On the face of it Cloudy Lane's credentials look impeccable. He proved his quality with a Kim Muir victory at Cheltenham last year and comes here in the form of his life after a trouble-free preparation. There is also the fact that he would be carrying a lot more than 10st 11lb if the handicapper could have another pop at rating him. The benefit of coming from a yard steeped in figuring the National out correctly is an intangible but, nevertheless, reassuring plus.

The most negative point for Cloudy Lane is a price that is as short as any ante-post favourite has been for this race in a long time. That won't impact on his chance of winning but what might is that he is hardly the most physically imposing of horses. The fences here may not be what they were but they still demand a fearsome physical effort. At the odds, banking on Cloudy Lane overcoming his size doesn't appeal.

Of course the National is about other families other than the McCain's and last year's third Slim Picking, who is the best priced of the Irish dozen, could provide a third generation of the Taaffe clan with a National success.

Tom Taaffe's father, Pat, rode two National victors - Gay Trip (1970) and Quare Times (1955) - while his grandfather, Tom, trained Mr What to win 50 years ago.

Slim Pickings proved himself around the course 12 months ago and off a similar rating must have a big chance again.

The fickle nature of National betting though means nothing can be taken for granted. A perfect example is Point Barrow who started favourite last year only to fall at the first and is now a big outsider. Tony McCoy's continues his attempts to finally fill in his one big race blank with Butler's Cabin but it is unlikely to be 'lucky 13' for the Antrim-born jockey.

Considering all of that, Hedgehunter's record around here seems even more remarkable and even with topweight, the 2005 winner will be no back number especially on decent ground.

However, on balance the value bet this year looks like coming from Howard Johnson's in-form yard in the north of England. Bewleys Berry's credentials are hardly cast iron either since his own balance let him down when falling at Bechers second time round last year.

He did appear unlucky on that occasion, though, as up to that he had jumped impeccably which was hardly surprising since he has finished runner-up in two Becher Chases over the big fences.

O'Regan's subtle jockeyship has reached a wider audience since taking up the high-profile job as first jockey to the hugely wealthy owner Graham Wylie and an already fruitful season could be about to reach overdrive.

Johnson himself is not a man to get carried away about his chances but he admitted yesterday: "I think he will run very well and if I didn't have Mr Wylie to train for, I'd retire if Bewleys Berry won!"

Compared to some of the big priced National winners over the years, a Bewleys Berry win may not allow retirement ideas for most of the rest of us. But he does look sure to give his backers a good run for their money.

1, Bewleys Berry

2, Hedgehunter

3, Chelsea Harbour

4, Fundamentalist