CO CORK trainer Margaret O’Sullivan believes a test of stamina is vital to Indifference Curve and that is what the dour stayer is going to get at Chepstow today in the Coral Welsh Grand National.
The sole Irish hope in the 20-strong field makes the journey from O’Sullivan’s tiny five-horse yard in an attempt to bring off a rare victory.
It is only three years since Notre Pere became the first Irish-trained winner of the marathon Christmas holiday slog, which demands staying power more than anything else over the 3¾ mile test.
Indifference Curve has nothing like the big-race profile that Jim Dreaper’s star brought to Chepstow in 2008 but he does have a proven ability to grind out a performance. That is what his trainer has been banking on for some time.
“I’ve been thinking about the race for a long time,” O’Sullivan said. “In fact, I think it could have been three years ago when he ran in a race in Limerick. I always thought he wanted a trip and his jumping is so good that I thought he might make a national horse one day.
“Chepstow is perhaps the toughest course in the world with the five fences in the straight but his jumping is his best attribute,” she added. “I gave him a short break after he was beaten in the Cork national and hopefully he has a chance.”
Indifference Curve will be ridden by Will Kennedy today and will be O’Sullivan’s first runner in Britain.
However the trainer is familiar with the test the Welsh national presents, having worked in the past for the legendary Jenny Pitman.
With last year’s winner Synchronised heading for Leopardstown’s Lexus Chase tomorrow, Giles Cross, runner-up in 2010, has topped the ante-post betting.
Trainer Victor Dartnall is hopeful of a big show.
“Giles Cross is in good form,” he said yesterday. “He always runs well at Chepstow. I’m happy with his weight and we’re looking forward to it.”
Alan King has been pleased with Blazing Bailey’s preparation following his run in the Hennessy at Newbury last month.
“I would much prefer it too be wet than gluey, but if we get the right conditions, Blazing Bailey would not be without a chance,” King said.
“It was obviously not ideal giving him his first race back in the Hennessy, but we had to start somewhere and he ran really well on ground which would have been plenty quick enough for him.”
Evan Williams reports Cappa Bleu ready to tackle this trip for the first time following his pleasing comeback win over three miles at Haydock after 20 months off the track.
“You’re worried about the bounce factor, the ground and lots of things,” Williams said, “ but at the end of the day it’s a race I’ve always had at the forefront of my mind after Haydock.”
