Groody Hill catches sponsor's eye

RACING:BOTH JP McManus and Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown Stud team look set to pull out all the stops for Easter Monday's Ladbrokes Irish Grand National which could play a major role in which of them is crowned champion owner this season.

McManus currently holds a slender lead of less than €6,000 over his big rival in the owners table and it is the McManus-owned Groody Hill who has been installed favourite for the Easter highlight at Fairyhouse after the weights were unveiled yesterday.

The Ted Walsh-trained Aintree hopeful Seabass has been installed topweight (11st 10lb) with Apt Approach next best on 11-9. Last year’s winner Organisedconfusion has been handed 11-4. But it’s the Troytown winner Groody Hill on 10-9 who has caught the sponsors eye, though, as McManus chases a first Irish National since Butlers Cabin in 2007.

Likely to be joining the favourite in the green and gold colours at Fairyhouse will be recent Cheltenham winner Alfie Sherrin and Pertemps Final runner-up, Catch Me. JP McManus’s racing manager Frank Berry reported: “Both of them have come out of their respective races well and providing we get some rain they are likely to head to Fairyhouse.”

The Gigginstown team is likely to be well represented too. Eddie O’Leary is encouraged by the fact that last year saw a six-year-old winning the race as far as the chances of Four Commanders (10-9) are concerned.

Regarding the other entries O’Leary pointed out yesterday: “We will hopefully run Magnanimity who has really come back to himself recently and Start Me Up is also another likely runner as are Gates of Rome and Crash who both have possible Limerick engagements first.”

A total of 69 horses remain in the Irish National with a maximum field of 30 allowed. The impact of the Aintree National, run just five days later this year, could be significant on the Fairyhouse race.

Commenting on the entry list, senior handicapper Noel O’Brien said: “I can’t remember a time when so many horses were in the handicap proper: Of the 69 entries, 64 of them are in the handicap and this will make for a very competitive renewal of the contest. It has attracted some top handicappers in the UK and Ireland so it is sure to be a very exciting race.”