Mccoy to ride cantlow at fairyhouse on monday

The Paul Webber-trained Cantlow will be Tony McCoy’s final ride in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday. The 10-year-old was one of 30 declared for the €275,000 contest this morning and the field also includes three reserves for the first time.

Leading ante-post hopes Grand Jesture, trained by Henry de Bromhead, Paul Fahey’s Lots Of Memories and the Dermot McLoughlin-trained Vics Canvas are also among the declarations as are other British challengers If In Doubt, trained by Philip Hobbs and William Kinsey’s Alpha Victor. The Dan Skelton-trained Toby Lerone is the first reserve but will only get a run if the Turf Club is notified of a non-runner by 10am on Sunday, April 5th.

Other leading hopes include My Murphy, trained by Liam Burke, Colm Murphy’s Empire Of Dirt and the Jim Dreaper-trained Los Amigos. Willie Mullins has declared both Perfect Gentleman, who will be ridden by Ruby Walsh and Dogora, the mount of Paul Townend.

The champion trainer holds the strongest hand in the inaugural running of the Sunday’s Grade 1 Ryanair Gold Cup for which nine horses have been declared. Ruby Walsh teams up with the star mare Gitane Du Berlais while Townend will be on board Valseur Lido. Others to note in the €100,000 contest include Enda Bolger’s Gilgamboa who will be ridden by Tony McCoy, the Noel Meade-trained Apache Stronghold and The Tullow Tank, trained by Sandra Hughes.

There is a strong British challenge for Sunday’s Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle headed by the Harry Fry-trained duo of Bitofapuzzle and Desert Queen. They will be joined by Alan King’s The Pirate’s Queen and Rons Dream, trained by Peter Bowen. The Willie Mullins-trained Petite Parisienne will be ridden by Ruby Walsh and the champion trainer is also set to run Lyrical Theatre and Uranna. Jessica Harrington has declared two runners for the €100,000 contest, Keppols Queen and Rock On The Moor.

Peter Roe, General Manager of Fairyhouse, said: “We are delighted with the quality of declarations for our big races this weekend. The last of the rain has passed and we can now plan for an exciting weekend with glorious weather forecast and top-class racing. This weekend will mark the last weekend we will see A.P. McCoy ride in Ireland before he retires and everyone should try to see him in action over the three days of the festival, as we may never again witness a sportsman like him.'

BoyleSports Irish Grand National, (place terms: 1/4 the first 5)

25 Alderwood

25 Alpha Victor

33 Band Of Blood

9 Cantlow

14 Champagne James

33 Clar Na Mionn

25 Daring Article

25 Dogora

14 Empire Of Dirt

14 Grand Jesture

12 If In Doubt

25 Lion Na Bearnai

12 Los Amigos

14 Lots Of Memories

16 My Murphy

16 No Secrets

14 Pass The Hat

14 Perfect Gentleman

20 Rivage D'or

25 Rogue Angel

25 Rule The World

33 She's Got Grit

33 Silver Tassie

33 Sizing Coal

16 Tammys Hill

25 The Crafty Butcher

20 The Job Is Right

20 Thunder And Roses

33 Usuel Smurfer

12 Vics Canvas