RACING/IRISH GRAND NATIONAL:EASTER MONDAY'S Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse is shaping up into a heavyweight struggle between Ireland's leading owners, JP McManus and Michael O'Leary, who will each have five runners in the country's most coveted steeplechase prize.
The result is a third of the maximum field of 30 runners will carry either O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud colours or those of McManus who could be on the verge of a historic Grand National week.
The signs were increasing yesterday McManus’s Cheltenham Gold Cup-winner Synchronised will be allowed take his chance in next Saturday’s Aintree National with trainer Jonjo O’Neill describing such a move as “logical”.
O’Neill’s Alfie Sherrin is part of McManus’s Fairyhouse team on Monday but Tony McCoy will team up with one of the leading ante-post favourites Groody Hill who was a 9 to 1 joint-favourite with Cross Appeal with the sponsors after the final declaration yesterday.
Just over €12,000 separates O’Leary and McManus in the Irish owners championship and Monday’s €141,000 first prize could yet play a major role in deciding the title at the end of the month.
Gigginstown’s apparent number one is the 10 to 1 shot Four Commanders who will be ridden by Davy Russell.
Last year’s winning jockey, Nina Carberry, is on Lastofttheleaders for her uncle, Arthur Moore,who won the race last year.
