Hopes high for Inoma James

WEEKEND PREVIEW:STRAFFAN TRAINER Derek Barry has resisted the lure of Cheltenham in order to pitch his dour stayer Inoma James into today's cross-channel feature, the John Smith's Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter.

Inoma James flies the flag in the four mile-plus marathon alongside Jessica Harrington’s Badgerlaw who is having a third crack at the marathon after finishing fifth last year and runner-up in 2008.

Harrington has a fine record in the race, winning with Miss Orchestra (1998) and Intelligent (2003) and drying ground would help Badgerlaw who found only Himalayan Trail too good for him two years ago.

In contrast Barry got a rare touch of the racing limelight at the end of January when Inoma James powered through heavy ground at Punchestown to land the National Trial and with Conor Maxwell still on the injury list, David Casey takes over in the saddle.

“There is some rain to come but he has some form on good ground too,” Barry said yesterday. “The handicapper over here has put him up 16lbs when I thought 10lbs would have been fair but every yard of the trip will help him and I think he won’t be far away.”

Today’s home action is at Gowran Park and jockey Robbie Colgan will fancy his chances in the opening maiden hurdle on board King Of The Refs.

This looks quite a hot event with the Downpatrick bumper winner Jim Bowie also lining up but King Of The Refs has quite a reputation in Tony Martin’s yard and may have been slightly unlucky at Leopardstown last time behind False Evidence.

Kauto Star's half brother Kauto Relko lines up in the novice hurdle and trainer Liam Burke will be hoping for better than at Cork when the horse looked beaten when crashing out at the second last behind Boston's Angel. The wide-margin Clonmel winner Gates Of Romecould be a better option.

P'tit Fute can use the experience of a couple of previous starts over fences to win at the third time of asking in the Beginners Chase while The Real Tysonlooks to hold good claims in the day's other maiden hurdle.