Fairyhouse previewAt lunchtime yesterday Horse Racing Ireland issued the final list of declarations for Monday's Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National consisting of 30 chasers all with nominated jockeys.
If the field lines up as declared, then it will set a race record eclipsing the 29-strong turn out that contested the event in 1984.
Then history of a very different sort was made with Mrs Ann Ferris becoming the first and so far only lady rider to win any major Grand National. Her mount Bentom Boy started at odds of 33 to 1 and the bookmakers have not enjoyed a similar "result" in the intervening 20 years.
English raider Artic Jack heads the weights on 12st for the €112,820 contest. Sue Smith's charge, a first fence faller in the Aintree equivalent last Saturday, is one of two British entries alongside Ferdy Murphy's Granit D'Estruval.
Meanwhile the three-day Easter Festival gets under way at Fairyhouse tomorrow when top billing goes to the Power Home Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase.
Mention of Dan Moore will recall for many a fine horseman who himself rode two Irish Grand National winners Golden Jack and Revelry and as a trainer won the race with Tied Cottage.
His memorial chase is, however, centred on speed, the 2m 1f handicap being topped by Native Scout.
Donie Hassett's horse has proved himself a specialist at this distance but may still not be able to give away 18lb to David Casey's mount Ballyamber.
A little late in life he has got his chasing act together and his recent defeat of Direct Bearing at Navan suggests that he could be a blot on this handicap with 10-10.
With Ruby Walsh out of action the Dan Moore is not the only big purse being targeted by David Casey. Half an hour earlier also riding for Willie Mullins Casey can lift the Grade Two Rathbarry and Glenview Studs Festival Novice Hurdle with Sadlers Wings.
A smart staying handicapper on the flat, Sadlers Wings won his first two hurdle starts with blinding ease and although he did not make it into the frame at Cheltenham, he still finished sixth to Fundamentalist in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.
Dan Moore's son, Arthur, is without a runner in the feature chase but can still be amongst the winners with Farinel in the most testing race of the afternoon the 3m 1f Ryans Cleaning Services Handicap Chase. Over hurdles he needed a distance of ground.
The hottest favourite turned over at the Leopardstown Festival was Adarma. He was 3 to I on chance to complete a hurdles hat-trick but blundered badly giving Alan Crowe no chance of staying in the saddle.
Christy Roche will be looking for a very different outcome in the Grade Three Mares Novice Hurdle that opens the card. Here the progressive handicapper Shivermetimber is the one that will put it up to Adarma and the rest. He was only touched off at Cheltenham.
While Willie Mullins may reckon that he has a sporting chance of a big race double, his confidence that he will win the bumper must be overflowing, although it could be a near run thing whether Green Peach or Malahide Marina proves the stable pick.
