SYNCHRONISED HAS to beat 78 years of history if he is to complete the Cheltenham Gold Cup- Aintree Grand National double this Saturday but he will go to Liverpool with his big-race jockey Tony McCoy in flying form.
McCoy carried JP McManus’s colours to a second successive Fairyhouse Easter festival double yesterday and such is the legendary team’s momentum that even Get Me Out Of Here managed to win a race for the first time in over two years.
Luckless at Cheltenham over the last three festivals, Get Me Out Of Here picked up the Grade Two Keelings Hurdle after overhauling the outsider Tofino Bay in the closing stages.
Synchronised’s trainer Jonjo O’Neill had to settle for third in the Irish National with Alfie Sheerin but is keenly anticipating Synchronised’s tilt over the big fences at Aintree as he tries to emulate Golden Miller in 1934.
“He has come out of the Gold Cup better than any other race and is full of himself since Cheltenham. He has his own unique style but AP (McCoy) knows him so well, as he does the horse today,” O’Neill said.
Get Me Out Of Here was cut to 10-1 for next season’s World Hurdle and O’Neill added: “It’s lovely to see him win a race, especially a good one like this.”
McCoy doubled up on his County Hurdle winner Alderwood who dominated throughout the Grade Two novice hurdle and was too strong for Allure Of Illusion in the closing stages.
Davy Russell notched up his century of winners in Ireland this season with Dedigout justifying favouritism in the handicap hurdle. It put Russell 19 winners clear of Ruby Walsh in the jockeys’ championship with just 11 race-days remaining.
“Hopefully he can win the championship now. He certainly deserves it,” said Russell’s boss Michael O’Leary, who had a mixed day elsewhere.
None of the Gigginstown team of four made an impression in the National but against that was a brilliant third bumper victory for Don Cossack whose trainer Gordon Elliott didn’t bother to hide the regard he holds this potential superstar in.
“If I was a horse myself, I’d sleep with him,” Elliott said. “And he’s a good-looking bastard!”
The Gigginstown colours were also first past the post in the point to point bumper on Rogue Angel but he lost the race in the stewards room to the Willie Mullins-trained Balanslow after interference inside the final furlong.
That left O’Leary in an unusual position as a perk for the connections of yesterday’s winner was to receive a €150,000 sale offer from the Ryanair boss. However it was unclear yesterday evening if Balanslow’s connections had accepted the money.
Rogue Angel’s jockey Roger Quinlan got two suspensions for his ride, two days for careless riding, and five for use of the whip.
FAIRYHOUSE FIGURES
POOR weather conditions impacted on yesterday's Irish Grand National crowd of 13,126 which dropped from 15,216 on the same day last year.
"It was a horrible morning in Dublin so considering that we are thrilled with the crowd," said the Fairyhouse manager Peter Roe.
Bookmaker turnover of €810,547 dropped from the 2011 figure of just over €1 million, while the Tote figure of €355,488 was also down from last year's €419,613.
