Westerners Son© Photo Healy Racing
Dermot McLoughlin was pleased following the recent release of the weights for April’s Aintree Grand National and the trainer of last year’s third Vics Canvas sends another likely outsider, Westerners Son, in pursuit of a big race win at Naas on Sunday when he contests the Grade 3 We Show All Live Racing Chase.
Westerners Son seemed to benefit from the re-application of blinkers when winning at the Co Kildare venue earlier this month but McLoughlin is under no illusions regarding the task facing his 135 rated gelding.
McLoughlin said “I was hoping the race would have cut up a little worse than it has but the lads who own him want to run. He’s in good form, came out of his recent win (also at Naas) well but will have to improve on ratings to win.”
Regarding Vics Canvas, who picked up GBP105,500 following his Aintree heroics as a 13 year old in 2016, McLoughlin added “he’s riding away but he won’t get a run between now and the National. I’ll speak to the lads (owners Bodeen Bandits Syndicate) but it is only seven weeks to the race and if he was to have a prep run, he’d have top weight and it might bottom him out.
“He has a grand weight though and is one or two pounds below last year, so you’d have to be happy. He’s number 48 but looks sure to get a run.”
Opposing Westerners Son is top weight and 153 rated Clarcam for trainer Gordon Elliott while the Micky Hammond trained raider Just Cameron, which won four out of five consecutive races in 2015, bids to follow up his Wetherby handicap chase win in January, under English jockey Henry Brooke.
Capable performers Alisier D'irlande, Pairofbrowneyes and 11 year old Smokey Joe Joe complete the line-up.
By Tom Weekes
