Gallant Oscar© Photo Healy Racing
Crabbie's Grand National contenders Goonyella and Gallant Oscar are among the 13 declared for the Woodlands 100 Club Leinster National at Naas today.
Goonyella has connections dreaming of Aintree after landing the Betfred Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter last March and also going close in the Scottish equivalent the following month.
All roads lead to Liverpool this year, with the nine-year-old having already had a sighter of the National fences this season in the Betfred Becher Chase.
Trainer Jim Dreaper is also represented by Venitien De Mai who like Goonyella carries the familiar colours of Alan and Ann Potts, and he's hopeful of a good run by both horses on the prevailing testing ground.
"They are both in good form and have run in these testing conditions in the past, so that shouldn't be a problem," said Dreaper.
"All being well this will be Goonyella's last run before the Grand National. His jumping was careful in the Becher and he just got a bit outpaced. That was the purpose of going there, to see how he coped with the National fences.
"Venitien De Mai is in with the big boys now. He's run in a lot of small fields in his life and, while it's not a big field at Naas, he's in against handicappers and we'll see how he copes with it.
"He's entered in the Irish National but winning a point-to-point over three miles doesn't actually indicate that you really stay it. When you run in a handicap chase like this it will tell whether you get the trip or not in this ground.
"If he got into the Irish National we would probably have a go at it, and we'll learn a lot more at Naas."
Venitien De Mai beat Futuramic by two and a half lengths in a beginners chase at Down Royal last month and the Andrew Lynch-trained gelding renews rivalry in this €50,000 affair.
"Futuramic has a lovely weight and is in great form but I'm a bit worried about the ground," said Lynch.
"The run in the Paddy Power Chase gave him good experience, and he jumped great in Down Royal the last day but Davy (Russell) said he might just need a bit of better ground. He's not going to get that on Sunday.
"He worked well with Zabana at Leopardstown on Monday, so we're happy to run him. I've entered him for the Irish National but he'd hardly get in unless he wins at Naas."
Gallant Oscar won this race two years ago off just 10st 1lb but Tony Martin's Grand National entry now carries top weight of 11st 10lb and his presence leaves nearly half of the field out of the handicap proper.
Gordon Elliott is double-handed with the Gigginstown-owned pair Captain Von Trappe and Nickname Exit while the Sandra Hughes-trained Golden Wonder should progress from his latest run over hurdles.
