JUST GRAND FOR MULLINS
IRISH champion trainer Willie Mullins plans to be represented by Pleasant Company and Alelchi Inois in his quest to win the Randox Grand National for the second time on Saturday week.
But Mullins, successful in the 2005 National with Hedgehunter, will not be sending over a large army of runners, like he did last year, for the supporting races at Aintree.
“Last year we were going for the trainers’ title,” said Mullins. “We’ll run a couple in the National.
“We could have a bumper horse and possibly something in the Aintree Hurdle.
“Footpad is maybe more Punchestown-bound. For Nichols Canyon, we are looking at Punchestown and the race in America (Calvin Houghland Iroquois) in May, in which he ran last year.
“I imagine the juveniles will be kept for Punchestown.”
Mullins is obviously keeping his big guns in Ireland to prevent Gordon Elliott stealing his crown and become champion trainer.
Mullins reports his six Cheltenham Festival winners to have recovered ® well. He issued a positive bulletin about Annie Power, who missed Cheltenham due to injury.
“They have come out of the Festival very well,” he said.
“Annie Power could run at Punchestown.”
Barry Geraghty will have to wait a few more days before finding out whether he will be given the all-clear to return to action in time for the National meeting.
He suffered a collapsed lung and six broken ribs when Charli Parcs fell at Kempton in February which ruled him out of the Cheltenham Festival.
“Barry was having a scan this morning. We’ll have to get the scan report to see if he is fit enough to go,” said Dr Adrian McGoldrick, Irish Turf Club senior medical officer.
“That will be the end of this week or early next week.”
Jamie Spencer will ride Donncha for the first time in Saturday’s Betway Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster.
Andrea Atzeni has been aboard Robert Eddery’s six-year-old for nine of his 23 career starts, but he rides favourite Morando for Roger Varian.