RACING: Hopes are growing that Youlneverwalkalone's racing career might not be over.
The JP McManus-owned Cheltenham festival winner fractured a canon bone in last weekend's Martell Grand National and is likely to remain in Liverpool's Leahurst Veterinary Hospital for three weeks.
However, fears that Youlneverwalkalone, who started an 8 to 1 joint second favourite for the National, only to be pulled up after the 12th fence, might have to be put down have eased.
"We are getting very good reports and the people over there seem to be very happy with him. They are even saying he might have a chance of racing again, but that's a long way down the road," trainer Christy Roche said yesterday.
The horse incurred the injury before the 12th fence but his momentum took him over the obstacle before jockey Conor O'Dwyer could pull him up.
"It wasn't nice because he is a horse that is a bit close to us here," Roche added. "They are telling us he could be home in a month and we will let him off and see what happens."
Like-A-Butterfly, in contrast, returned from Aintree in good shape and has been let off for the summer to McManus's Martinstown Stud, in company with the top novice Le Coudray.
"The mare came back fine and she'll start off novice chasing early in the next season," Roche said.
Youlneverwalkalone's name features among the entries for the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National, but it's the controversial 2001 winner David's Lad who Cashmans believe will come out on top in nine days.
The Cork firm have installed the horse, who was ruled out of Aintree, as a 5 to 1 favourite for Fairyhouse, with Just In Debut next best at 6 to 1.
Cashmans: 5 David's Lad, 6 Just In Debt, 8 Hedgehunter and Timbera, 10 Rockholm Boy, Rathbawn Prince and Takagi, 12 Rince Ri, Eskimo Jack and The Bunny Boiler, 14 Arctic Copper, Barrow Drive and Native Jack, 16 Bar.
On the classic front, the National Stakes winner Refuse To Bend was, as expected, supplemented in the Epsom Derby at a cost of £9,000 yesterday.
However, Dermot Weld also supplemented the maiden Former Senator into racing's blue riband despite the brother to the Irish Oaks winner Dance Design having had only one career run.
Another Irish-trained colt to be supplemented was the John Oxx-trained Alamshar, who is expected to start in Sunday's Group Three PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes.
Aidan O'Brien trains the Derby favourite Brian Boru as he goes in search of a third successive victory at Epsom, but the Ballydoyle trainer is unlikely to have any runner at next week's Craven meeting at Newmarket.
A bout of equine flu has devastated some yards in Newmarket and O'Brien is unlikely to risk bringing it back.
"It's unfortunate but we know all about it from last year and we could do without it again. Hopefully things will settle down in Newmarket," he said.
O'Brien also outlined plans for a possible raid to France for Black Sam Bellamy, who was an impressive winner of a Listed race at Leopardstown on his first start this season.
"He is in the Prix Ganay which is an option, as is the Mooresbridge at the Curragh," said O'Brien who added that his overseas raids this season could mean more visits to the US.
"We possibly won't have a runner in the Kentucky Derby but we may use races in America more, races like the Preakness and the Belmont and the Travers," he said.
