Racing: Point Barrow might be a 10 to 1 co-favourite in some lists for the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National but his trainer Pat Hughes appears to be far from enthusiastic about running the horse in the Easter Monday feature.
The seven-year-old was a beaten favourite in last week's National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and Hughes is concerned that his current handicap mark will leave him with too big a task at Fairyhouse.
"It's all up in the air. The horse incurred an 8lb penalty for the last day and his jockey (Joey Elliott) has lost his 3lb claim so in effect he is 11lb worse off. On those figures he wouldn't win an ordinary race and I would be surprised if he had any chance in an Irish National," said Hughes yesterday.
"That's why we went to Cheltenham but the way he ran there he would win no race off this mark. It doesn't make running in the National too attractive."
Hughes also contrasted Point Barrow's rating to the concessions made by the handicapper to the highly-rated horses in order to try and attract them to the National.
There is a forfeit stage for the big race today and the final declarations will be made on Good Friday but already there have been market moves for a number of horses including the smart novice Well Presented, who is one of the three co-favourites with Paddy Power and a clear 8 to 1 favourite with Cashmans.
Jessica Harrington's horse has some smart form on testing ground and that could be significant as the going at Fairyhouse is now "heavy".
Fairyhouse's manager Dick Sheil reported yesterday: "We have had 26 millimetres of rain since Sunday evening and we wouldn't want much more. But the good news is that it is dry now and only showers are being forecast."
Other good news for the course team, on the back of reports that Beef Or Salmon, Keen Leader and First Gold are not going to run, is that Le Coudray's likely participation is set to see him carry top weight which would prevent a dramatic rise in the weights.
One trainer torn between the Fairyhouse National and the Aintree National 12 days later is Frances Crowley.
She will leave a call on which race Nil Desperandum, who bounced back to winning form at Down Royal last week, will run in until as late as possible.
"He has a nicer weight in the English version and it would give us more time to get him ready. He is very well and it was nice to see him win the other day. Mind you the handicapper seems to have taken note but we needed to see a return to form before we could plan further," she said.
Last year's winner Granit D'Estruval came from Ferdy Murphy's cross-channel yard and Murphy will be represented again in the National by Joes Edge.
One horse who won't run, however, and who is finished for the season, is Keepatem who landed a huge Christmas gamble in the Paddy Power Chase but who disappointed at Cheltenham.
The Fairyhouse Festival starts on Sunday with the Grade Two Rathbarry and Glenview Festival Novice Hurdle, the opening day feature.
Justified, who was heavily fancied for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last week, could make a quick reappearance in it after being one of 26 acceptors at yesterday's forfeit stage.
"He has come out of that in great form and he could run in that two mile or the two and a half mile on Tuesday (Menolly Homes Hurdle).
"Cheltenham was a combination of the ground being on the fast side and the horse not settling.
"The plan was not to lead but I couldn't believe the pace. The race just didn't work out the way we thought it would," said Justified's trainer Dusty Sheehy.
Sheehy's other stable star, Rathgar Beau, could make a quick reappearance from his good Cheltenham effort in the An Uaimh Chase at Navan on April 2nd. Rathgar Beau won the race last year from Strong Run.
"We have the option of going to Aintree as well but long term the plan is definitely to go to Punchestown," said Sheehy.
IRISH GRAND NATIONAL BETTING: (Paddy Power): 10 Point Barrow, Well Presented and Numbersixvalverde, 14 Marcus Du Berlais, What Odds, Colnel Rayburn, Jack High and Jaquouille, 16 bar. (Cashmans): 8 Well Presented, 10 Numbersixvalverde, What Odds, Nil Desperandum and Joes Edge, 12 Ansar, Colnel Rayburn, Jaquouilland, Kymandjen and Jack High, 14 bar.
