Carberry eyes more National glory with Run

Mar 24 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

PAUL CARBERRY will hope for a big-race double when he partners Noel Meade’s Well Run in this afternoon’s Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

The Irish rider landed the Grade One Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse yesterday aboard Jimmy Mangan’s Conna Castle. And he expects to close today when he partners Well Run, who won the Ulster National at Downpatrick on his last outing for his boss Meade.

The seven-year-old is a 14-1 chance for the 3m5f contest and Carberry said: “He won well the last day, he’ll like the trip and the ground is coming right. There’s been a cloud over a few of Noel’s horses, but he seems okay and he has a chance. If everything goes well he’ll be in with a shout.”

Conna Castle (7-2), who was third to another Irish National hopeful Cailin Allain at Thurles earlier this month, got back up to win by half a length from evens favourite Big Zeb, despite making a bad mistake at the last fence under Carberry.

Trainer Mangan, who won the Grand National with Monty’s Pass in 2003, is eyeing Aintree again with Conna Castle with the John Smith’s Melling Chase on the Ladies Day a possibility.

Mangan said: “That was great. He’ll be entered for Aintree now.”

Meanwhile jockey Tom Doyle is relishing the prospect of riding top weight Beef Or Salmon in today’s Irish National.

The 10-time Grade One winner retires at the end of the season and the 12-year-old is around a 25-1 chance to add another big-race success to his CV. Doyle said: “He’s a grand old horse and I’m looking forward to riding him. I’ve sat on him at home and you wouldn’t think he was a 12-year-old, he’s bouncing.

“He has not been disgraced this season even though his form is not quite to the standard it used to be. It’s a big ask with 12st, but I’m hopeful he’ll run well. He could do with it being a bit softer, the ground’s drying out a bit.”

Willie Mullins, who is yet to win the Irish National, had to rule out Pomme Tiepy following an unsatisfactory scope, but he is hopeful of ending his barren run in the race with Alexander Taipan and Homer Wells.

He said: “Alexander Taipan has shown he’s an out-and-out stayer, he’s not the slowest horse but he stays and Ruby (Walsh) will be huge help. He gets the best out of him, Ruby’s win on him at Punchestown last year was for me his ride of the year. He dragged him home.

“A National is a National, there’s a lot of jumping in the last six furlongs here. It’s probably not my fella’s forte, but he’s nicely treated at the weights and we have the right man on board.

“Homer Wells is a course winner and the extra distance will be huge help to him. Davy Condon gets on well with him and it’s the first time he has had something like his ground so he has a small each-way chance.”

Tony Martin’s Royal County is the warm 4-1 favourite for today’s race.

TODAY’S NAP: King Of The Moors (4.50pm Redcar).