Soft ground ideal for Whinstone Boy

THE CURRENT weather might be bad news to a lot of people but not Jimmy Mangan who is praying for even more rain ahead of Saturday's week's Aintree Grand National.

Mangan has both Conna Castle and the Thyestes winner Whinstone Boy on target for the world's most famous steeplechase and the latter will relish very testing ground conditions.

Monty's Pass was a memorable National winner for Mangan in 2003 and the Co Cork trainer is hopeful he will have another big shout in this year's race if Whinstone Boy gets in.

"It is going to be tight if Whinstone Boy gets into the race.

"I will probably give him an entry in the handicap hurdle at Aintree on the Friday so he could take his chance there if he misses the cut for the big one," Mangan said yesterday.

"He is loving all this rain at the moment.

"The key to him is the ground - the softer the better. He would have a perfect racing weight if he gets in and hopefully Seán Flanagan would be on board again," he added.

Conna Castle in contrast would prefer good ground and his trainer said: "He was unlucky last time and would have been a good second to Let Yourself Go who is going for the Powers Gold Cup.

"He missed the National last year but he is 11 now and we decided he deserved a crack at the race."

Conna Castle was a Powers Gold Cup winner in 2007 and Zaarito has been installed a 9 to 4 favourite with Paddy Power to win Sunday's renewal of the Grade One. Shakervilz is rated his big danger at 4 to 1.

Mullins keeps fingers crossed for Made In Taipan

TOM MULLINS is praying for rain in order to confirm Made In Taipan for the Grand National.

A 50 to 1 shot with totesport, the eight-year-old ran nicely at Navan last time out when second to Glencove Marina in the An Uaimh Chase.

Mullins said: "We are just querying Made In Taipan's Grand National participation at the moment - if it comes up soft we would be inclined to go but he does need that cut in the ground.

"He is very well after his last race, we are just waiting on the green light before committing, so fingers crossed for the rain because his owners are very keen to run. I was really happy with his effort at Navan. I didn't expect Glencove Marina to run as well as he did but we were giving him 8lb and I was very happy with that.

"The fact he settles better in his races now will help him have a chance of seeing out the trip.

He is a horse with that bit of class you need to have a chance of winning the National."