Cabaret Queen which is trained by Willie Mullins and owned by “Syndicates Racing” has the Leinster national in her sights this weekend.
The nine-year-old has already clocked up two wins to her name since joining Ireland’s champion trainer, the first coming in the Munster National at Limerick and the next in the Kerry National at Listowel.
The English Grand National at Aintree is now the ultimate aim but in the meantime, Sunday’s €80,000 feature at Naas is under strong consideration for Cabaret Queen and her connections.
The mare carries the increasingly familiar colours of Syndicates Racing and the head of that operation, Jack Cantillon, would relish her lining up on Sunday for a number of reasons.
“It’s nice to have Naas as an option for Cabaret Queen,” Cantillon said following the latest forfeit stage which saw her among 37 remaining entries.
“Bar One Racing are great supporters of the sport and if she’s wasn’t to go to Cheltenham, where she holds an entry in the Mares’ Chase, we’d love to go here for the Bar One Racing Leinster National.
Jack’s father, Dermot, is the chairman at Naas Racecourse so while the current Covid-19 restrictions prevent owners from attending the races if Cabaret Queen could snare a third domestic National it would be all the sweeter at Naas.
“Of course as someone who has been going racing in Naas all his life, it would be a thrill too to land such a big prize at the track. But we will just have to wait and see.”
Syndicates Racing currently has 11 horses in training and as well as Irish-based trainers Willie Mullins, Joseph O’Brien, Johnny Murtagh, Ken Condon, and Eddie Harty, have added two English handlers, Clive Cox and Amy Murphy to their team.
Apart from Cabaret Queen, syndicate members have enjoyed wonderful success with Tonkinese, New Emerald Bay, and Grangee, who takes her place in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper off the back of victory at Grade 2 level.