Enjoy D'allen (Conor Orr) winning at Fairyhouse© Photo Healy Racing
Leading Randox Grand National contender Enjoy D’allen has been bought by JP McManus and will stay in training with Ciaran Murphy.
The eight-year-old gelding, third to Freewheelin Dylan in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National last year, is currently disputing favouritism for the Aintree highlight at general odds of 16/1.
Murphy only took over the training licence at Charlestown Stud stables near Mullingar from partner Dot Love at the beginning of last year and is exciting by this latest development saying, “It’s huge for us that we could recommend a horse of this calibre to Mr McManus and that he will stay in training here at Charlestown.
“He’s in good order after his latest run over hurdles at Leopardstown and the plan is to keep him fresh and go straight to Aintree.
“He ran a cracker in the Paddy Power at Christmas and it’s now all about getting him to Aintree in good form.”
The son of Network, who won a point-to-point for Peter Flood together with two wins over fences for Murphy early last year, was previously owned by John Scullion’s Railway View Stud Partnership.
Enjoy D’allen has a rating of 148 which translates to a current weight of 10st5lb at Aintree and has been well-supported in from 40/1 since the announcement of the National weights last week.
McManus has memorably won the Grand National twice in the past with Don't Push It scoring under Tony McCoy in 2010 and Rachael Blackmore becoming the first female rider to land the marathon chase aboard Minella Times last year.
