Geraghty for Shutthefrontdoor at Fairyhouse
A maximum field of thirty will face the starter for the Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.
Boylesports Irish Grand National Ambassador Barry Geraghty has been booked by Jonjo O’Neill to ride the well-fancied Shutthefrontdoor.
The seven-year-old ran a solid race at Cheltenham in the National Hunt Chase and Geraghty stated: “He is a very good ride to pick up and he has a nice weight on his back so I am looking forward to it. He does stay well and he seems to handle good ground, so he goes there with his chance in what looks a very open race.”
Shutthefrontdoor is one of six runners in the race for owner JP McManus, who also owns Cause Of Causes (12/1 with sponsors Boylesports) from the Gordon Elliott yard. This improving six-year-old has been runner up on his last three starts including a narrow defeat in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and he went close in the Kim Muir Chase at the recent Cheltenham Festival.
Trainer of Cause Of Causes, Gordon Elliottsaid: “He’s been knocking on the door in a lot of big handicaps this year – he was unlucky in the Paddy Power and unlucky in the Kim Muir. It’s a big step up to 3m 5f but we’re hoping with the ground still drying out that it will suit him and he’ll stay. He’s got a good solid each-way chance and with a bit of luck he won’t be too far away.”
Preparations for the Boylesports Easter Festival which starts on Sunday featuring the Powers Gold Cup, are continuing for the Fairyhouse team.
Peter Roe, Fairyhouse Racecourse Manager said: “The ground at Fairyhouse is currently good to yielding. We have been watering since Wednesday and will continue to do so to produce safe jumping ground. The current forecast is for rain on Sunday evening but we will continue to monitor. The entries for the Boylesports Irish Grand national are very exciting and we look forward to a great weekend’s racing.”
Press Control and click on the following link for a full list of entries: http://bit.ly/1h9gBq9
Press Control and click on the following link for a clip of Gordon Elliott, speaking about Cause of Causes’ chances in the Boylesports Irish Grand National: http://bit.ly/1nfjmyj
Boylesports Irish Grand National Outright Prices, (place terms: 1/4 the first 5)
11 Home Farm
12 Tammys Hill
12 Goonyella
12 Shutthefrontdoor
12 Cause Of Causes
14 Gallant Oscar
14 My Murphy
16 Golden Wonder
16 Pendra
16 Daring Article
16 Los Amigos
16 Touch The Eden
20 Lion Na Bearnai
20 Mullaghanoe River
20 Cantlow
20 Sraid Padraig
20 Alfie Sherrin
20 The Westener Boy
20 Toon River
20 Folsom Blue
20 Heaney
25 Away We Go
25 Clar Na Mionn
25 Rich Revival
25 Saoirse Dun
25 Rogue Angel
33 Make A Track
33 Letter Of Credit
33 Oscars Well
40 Jamsie Hall