Cash boost raises the National profile

RACING: A substantial hike in prizemoney which makes next year's Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National worth €250,000 has already provoked hopes that the Easter Monday highlight will once again attract the top level horses to Fairyhouse.

The cash injection announced yesterday now makes the National Ireland's richest jumps race, and Beef Or Salmon trainer Michael Hourigan reacted by saying the country's top chaser could take his chance.

"It's a tremendous increase for a great race, and at quarter of a million we will give it plenty of consideration," said Hourigan.

That echoed the view of the jumps handicapper, Noel O'Brien, who predicted: "You could well see a Gold Cup-type horse being aimed at the race, and it's entirely possible we will see horses from France coming over for what will be without doubt one of the major jump races anywhere."

In the past, Gold Cup winners like Desert Orchid (1990) and Arkle (1964) have carried topweight to victory in the National, but the recent trend is for most of the top performers to skip the National and opt instead for Punchestown or Liverpool.

Naas trainer Michael O'Brien, a three-time National winner, said: "It would be nice to have a horse good enough to win it again, but this money will make it a better class race, no doubt."

This year's renewal, won by the Ferdy Murphy-trained Granit d'Estruval, was worth €180,000. The 2005 race will be run on March 28th.

This weekend's handicap highlight, however, is the Stanleybet Troytown Chase, which retained 26 entries at yesterday's forfeit stage. The first two in the Cork Grand National, Garvivonnian and Star Clipper, stand their ground for the Navan feature, as does the highest rated Arctic Copper.

It's the Beginners Chase at Navan that has attracted some star names, with Like-A-Butterfly, who is more likely to go to Naas on Saturday, left in along with Newmill, Kahuna and Fota Island.

Newmill also holds a Naas entry, but his trainer, Tom O'Leary, reported yesterday: "He jumps brilliantly but the whole yard has a cough at the moment so I can't say for definite what we will do until he is scoped."

Only 12 horses have been left in the Grade Three Tote Exacta Monksfield Hurdle, but they include the highly regarded Augherskea, who won his sole hurdling start to date at Down Royal earlier in the month. He is one of a Noel Meade quartet remaining in the race.

Conor O'Dwyer made a successful visit to Newton Abbot yesterday and can also be on the mark at Downpatrick this afternoon where Keepatem gets the stamina test he so enjoys in the Beginners Chase.

This trip of almost three miles will be much more suitable to the Mouse Morris-trained horse than two recent starts at Clonmel, which leaves him with something to find with the likes of Numbersixvalverde and Ransboro.

The Boys In Green tops the weights in the handicap chase, but although he holds a substantial edge on Alexander Fourball on Down Royal form behind Jaquouille, the forecast "good to yielding" ground and the trip should be much more suitable for the Arthur Moore runner.

Barry Geraghty teams up with Jim Dreaper for Doodle Addle in the first Beginners Chase, and a repeat of the run behind War Of Attrition at Thurles would see this one figure prominently.