Noel Meade with School Boy Hours after winning the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown© Photo Healy Racing
JP McManus is sure to be well represented in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National with School Boy Hours and Enjoy D’allen both likely to make a quick reappearance after an early Aintree exit in the €500,000 feature at Fairyhouse on Monday.
McManus has 12 of the remaining 51 entries including Time To Get Up whose trainer Jonjo O’Neill has previously saddled winners of the 3m5f event in the famous green and orange colours with Butler’s Cabin (2007) and Shutthefrontdoor (2014).
School Boy Hours was pulled up after being badly hampered at Valentine’s (ninth fence) last Saturday but his trainer Noel Meade is hopeful the nine-year-old, who won the Paddy Power Chase at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting and only got into the race at Aintree as a late reserve, will line-up as part of a three-pronged challenge for the Castletown trainer at Fairyhouse.
Meade said, “We’ll run Diol Ker, Lieutenant Command and it looks highly probable that School Boy Hours will also run if the ground is okay.
“Rachael (Blackmore, on Minella Times) landed on top of him after Valentine’s. Sean (Flanagan) thought he had done something wrong behind and pulled him up.
“He was a bit sore when he came in but he’s ok now and came home alright. If he’s ok and the ground is ok I’d say there is a fair chance he will run.”
He added, “Diol Ker is in great form and I’m very happy with him. The softer the better for him and also for Lieutenant Command as well.
“I wouldn’t think Jerandme will get in.”
Enjoy D’allen didn’t get further than the first when unseating Conor Orr in the Randox Grand National but trainer Ciaran Murphy confirmed the Network gelding is none the worse for the experience.
“He ran around for a circuit but he came back fine. It was very disappointing but on the plus side it means he can run at Fairyhouse,” said the Mullingar handler.
“I’ll have to talk to Frank (Berry, McManus’ racing manager) but the plan is to take his chance.
“He ran a cracker when third in the race last year and he’s had a light campaign.”
