It's 24 years since Mouse Morris rode Billycan to beat Tied Cottage in the Irish Grand National and Foxchapel King can bridge the long gap for the Co Tipperary trainer in tomorrow's Powers Gold Label £130,000 feature.
Another link with that race in 1977 is that Tied Cottage went on to go one better and win the race two years later. No horse has achieved that since but there is confidence that Foxchapel King can emulate Tied Cottage and go one better than his 10-length second to Commanche Court last season.
Foxchapel King is 10lb better off with Commanche Court this time and unlike the double seeker, he comes here off an ideal warm-up race when second to Micko's Dream at Gowran.
"That Gowran race has worked out very well and based on that he has to have a live chance. I can't be confident about winning but I do believe he is a better horse this year," Morris said yesterday before stressing his desire the ground stays on the good side.
The National is not on its traditional Easter Monday date but the challenge facing Commanche Court is still the same. Only Brown Lad in 197576 has landed back-to-back Grand Nationals and the Ted Walsh-trained runner will also have to equal Flashing Steel in 1995 who managed to win with 12st.
Commanche Court was pulled up after a bad mistake in Moscow Express's victory here last week but is reported in good shape for his double attempt.
Possibly the most intriguing runner is Sheltering, the country's top hunter who takes his first step outside that sphere and into one of the most competitive races of the year.
His trainer, Edward O'Grady, won with Bit Of A Skite in 1983 and said yesterday: "You can't compare hunter chase and handicap form but it will be interesting to see what he does in such a competitive contest. He is used to dominating his races. I put his jumping down the last day to heavy going and he's a typical Strong Gale who should like good ground."
Even so O'Grady didn't hesitate to nominate Foxchapel King as one of the principal horses to beat and it's hard to disagree with him. Foxchapel King looks reasonably handicapped, comes to the race in good form and the eight-year-old can help Morris emulate Arthur Moore who has both ridden and trained the Irish National winner.
O'Grady said yesterday his star novice hurdler Ned Kelly has yet to capture the public's hearts but if the chestnut can keep his unbeaten-over-flights record going in the £45,000 novice contest, that could easily change.
Ned Kelly won over the course and distance last time and although 9lb worse off now, O'Grady said: "I think he has improved since then. I don't think he has captured the imagination of a lot of people but I thought I saw a very good horse the last day and I would like to see him do it again."
Christy Roche runs three in the £21,000 handicap hurdle and with both Grimes and High Stakes topping the weights, the other Roche runner, That's Fine By Me, looks to have a winning weight.
The day's other fixture is at Gowran where Aidan O'Brien's Leopardstown scorer El Bueno can pick up the classic trial while the Dermot Weld-trained runner, Maumee, looks good for the opener.
