Dorans Pride's trainer, Michael Hourigan, was noncommittal yesterday about whether his stable star would be allowed to take his chance in Easter Monday's £125,000 Jameson Irish Grand Nation al.
The beaten Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite tops the Irish National weights on 12 st in a 53strong entry where only five horses currently stand at over 10 st.
Dorans Pride runs in tomorrow's Martell Cup, and many of the lower-rated animals in the Fairyhouse showpiece will be hoping that Hourigan will then call time on the horse for the season.
Yesterday Hourigan said: "The horse is in good form, but we'll have to wait and see what happens in Liverpool before deciding about Fairyhouse."
Twenty British-trained horses figure in the Irish Grand National which was won last year by Jenny Pitman's Mudahim. The Martell Grand National hope Suny Bay is on 11-7, with last year's Fairyhouse third, The Grey Monk, on 11-1. Then comes last year's Scottish National hero, Belmont King, with the smart novice, Boss Doyle, engaged at Aintree on Friday, the only other entry above the 10 st minimum weight on 105.
The JP McManus-owned pair Wylde Hide and Time For A Run both miss Saturday's Aintree National and are being re-routed to Fairyhouse, while the Ted Walsh-trained Papillon, the beaten favourite at Fairyhouse last year, has been given 9 st 8 lb.
The total prize fund for the three-day Easter festival is £423,000, with the £20,000 Jameson Gold Cup Hurdle the main support act on Easter Monday. The Power Gold Cup is the second day feature, with the £20,000 Oliver Freany Dan Moore Handicap Chase the highlight on an eight-race, third-day card.
There will be guaranteed jackpots of £25,000, £17,500 and £15,000 respectively, while the third day is being promoted as a special Co Meath day.
Weights
(Irish unless stated)
12st - Dorans Pride.
11-7 - Suny Bay (Brit), 11-1 - The Grey Monk (Brit).
10-7 - Belmont King (Brit), 10-5 - Boss Doyle.
9-10 - General Command (Brit), 9-9 - Fiddling The Facts (Brit), 9-8 - Land Afar (Brit), Papillon, 9-7 - Wylde Hide, 9-6 - Buckboard Bounce, Call It A Day (Brit), Dun Belle, 9-4 - Time For A Run, 9-1 - Him Of Praise (Brit), 9-0 - Son Of War.
8-13 - Bob Treacy, 8-12 - The Last Fling (Brit), 8-11 - Bobbyjo, Flashing Steel, Glemot (Brit), Kamikaze (Brit), Letterlee, Samlee (Brit), 8-10 - Corket, Go Go Gallant, Heist, Stormtracker (Brit), 8-9 - Cariboo Gold (Brit), 8-7 - Eton Gale, Gimme Five, St Mellion Fairway (Brit), Ultra Flutter, 8-6 - Hermes Harvest (Brit) Minella Lad, Tell The Nipper, 8-5 - Brave Highlander (Brit), Glebe Lad, 8-4 - Padashpan, 8-3 - Astings, 8-2 - Druids Brook (Brit), Tryfirion, 8-1 - Miss Orchestra, Ontheroadagain, Una's Choice.
7-9 - Roundwood, 7-7 - Toureen Gale, 7-6 - Nelsons Tipple, 7-5 - Gale Toi, 7-2 - Full Of Oats, 7-0 - Brownrath King, Coming On Strong, Inniscein.
