Last weekend it was all about the Aintree Grand National where Carlow trainer Emmet Mullins saw Noble Yeats take top honours with Sam Waley-Cohen on board.
This weekend, it will be Willie Mullins pushing for another Boylesports Irish Grand National victory at Firehouse.
It took him a while to get his first, mind, Burrows Saint in 2019 taking the win with Ruby Walsh on board.
That day finished with a 1-2-3 for Mullins as Walsh lead home from Isleofhopendreams in second and Acapella Bourgeois in third.
With Franco de Port likely among Mullins’ principal runners come Monday, the champion trainer has been telling Dave Keena of his chances.
“The day he doesn’t make a mistake, he’s probably going to win a big one”, says the Carlow native.
“He just seems to be coming into a race nicely and then loses a half-length or a length at the crucial point over the second or third last (fence). If he gets around Fairyhouse he’s going to be a big threat in that race.”
“Gaillard du Mesnil ran a cracker in Cheltenham and if he follows up from that, he’s going to be a big player there too.”
“He’s going to be a little inexperienced going there but he’s a nice weight and I think he’ll handle the track.”
“You talk about the Aintree Grand National, we find the Irish (Grand) National is hard if not harder. Whatever about it, it’s a tough race to win.”
The Boylesports Irish Grand National goes to post at 2.05pm on Easter Monday. We’ll have more of a preview on Friday’s edition of Scoreline just after the 6pm news.
