Timbera looks certain runner

Racing: Timbera looks set to run in Monday's Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse after pleasing trainer Dessie Hughes in a gallop yesterday morning.

The 10-year-old was the ante-post favourite for the Martell Cognac Grand National but was pulled out of the race at the 11th hour after scoping badly. However, Hughes is satisfied his charge has recovered sufficiently over the last week and the gelding is now set to bid for a second successive win in the Fairyhouse race. "He worked this morning, he worked well and he's nearly certain to go to Fairyhouse," said the trainer.

"Conditions are perfect at Fairyhouse at the moment and the only thing that he wouldn't want would be if it got very soft - it was good ground last year. He's rated 139 at the moment, which puts him on 10st 8lb, but if Le Coudray comes out, I think he goes up to 11st 2lb. But he would still be on a good weight as he's a very strong horse. I think Jim Culloty will ride him."

Timbera, who has been off the track since finishing fifth in the Mick Holly Memorial Handicap Chase at Leopardstown in February, is currently a 12 to 1 chance with Ladbrokes for Monday's race. "He didn't scope 100 per cent clean yesterday, but he scoped 100 per cent better then he had previously done, so we are hoping by Monday that it will have all cleared up," Hughes added.

"He's in very good form - if we hadn't scoped him, you'd have said the horse was 110 per cent. He seems to come right at this time of year."

The Co Kildare handler is planning one more run for Timbera after Monday, in the Castlemartin Stud/Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase at Punchestown on April 29th.

Ladbrokes National betting: 8-1 Native Jack, Xenophon, 10-1 Satco Express, 11-1 Montayral, 12-1 Artic Jack, Colonel Rayburn, Direct Bearing, Hume Castle, Kadoun, Timbera, 14-1 Le Coudray, Mini Sensation, Never Compromise, 16-1 Ross Moff, 20-1 Back On Top, Bennie's Pride, Golden Storm, Tyneandthyneagain, What Odds, 25-1 bar.

Champion hurdler Hardy Eustace was reported the picture of health yesterday ahead of a possible rematch with Rooster Booster in the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival later this month. "He's in terrific form," the Curragh-based trainer said. "He lost some weight at Cheltenham but he's put it all back on now and he looks marvellous."