Timbera shock for National punters

Racing News round-up: Punters were dealt a massive blow yesterday with the shock news that Martell Cognac Grand National ante-post favourite Timbera is to miss the race. Last year's Powers Gold Label Irish National hero had been as low as 8 to 1 for Saturday's Aintree spectacular.

Dessie Hughes remains hopeful that Timbera can try for a second success in a row in the Irish Grand National despite being dramatically ruled out of Saturday's big race.

After an early morning school over Aintree-type obstacles on the Curragh yesterday, a scope on Timbera revealed a serious lung infection that has wrecked months of preparation on the run-up to the Aintree feature.

"It's dreadful, a real nuisance," admitted Hughes yesterday. "We always scope horses before an important race and it seems like we used up all our luck at Cheltenham with Hardy Eustace."

Timbera was to be ridden by Jim Culloty (who will now ride the Martin Todhunter-trained Just In Debt) at Liverpool, a partnership that won out in last year's Irish National at Fairyhouse, and Hughes hasn't discounted the possibility that they could yet get the chance to double up on April 12th.

"I really don't know yet if he will be able to make it but he might. He's going to be on an antibiotic for three days and there is nine days after that to see where we stand. If he gets over it in a week then he could run at Fairyhouse but these infections can sometimes last up to a month.

"The good thing is that in this good weather we can let him out in a field and the other consolation is that he is very fit already. There wouldn't have to be that much done with him," he said. A total of 74 entries remain in the Irish National including 18 British-trained horses. The highest weighted of them is the Sue Smith-trained Artic Jack who like many other Fairyhouse entries is set to run first at Aintree on Saturday.

No topweight has won the Irish National since Flashing Steel in 1995 and this year's highest weighted Harbour Pilot is more likely to wait for the Punchestown Festival instead.

Next highest of 11-9 is Le Coudray, another Aintree contender, while Rince Ri on 11-6 was also ruled out of Liverpool after scoping badly at the weekend.

The next best on 11-3 is the SunAlliance Chase winner Rule Supreme but trainer Willie Mullins said yesterday that the horse is more likely to bypass Fairyhouse in favour of the Betfair Gold Cup, formerly the Whitbread, at Sandown.

"The chances of him running at Fairyhouse are slim. He has about 10-5 in the Sandown race which means he is well treated compared to the race here. His Cheltenham win has been taken into account for the Irish National so I don't know about him running there," Mullins said.

The Co Carlow trainer now has charge of the Aintree favourite Hedgehunter who has been cut to 9 to 1 market leader by Ladbrokes following Timbera's defection. "Hedgehunter did his final bit of work this morning and went well. We were happy enough with him," said Mullins who added that Shay Barry will be on board his other National contender Alexander Banquet.

Jonjo O'Neill has a three-strong entry for Saturday's marathon and they include Native Emperor, winner of the four-mile National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham festival who has been given 10-6 in the Easter Monday festival. However, O'Neill said: "I would say Mini Sensation is the most likely of my three to run at Fairyhouse."