Any Second Now and Mark Walsh (right) chase down Escaria Ten and Jordan Gainford© Photo Healy Racing
Any Second Now and Escaria Ten both shortened in the betting for the Grand National after serving up a thriller in the Grade Three Tote Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.
In first time blinkers Escaria Ten put up a bold show, but last year’s Aintree third placer Any Second Now powered home to get up and win by a nose, with the other two participants left well behind.
There were gaps of forty two lengths and seventeen lengths to Burrows Saint and Coko Beach
Any Second Now was doubling the scores of owner J P McManus and rider Mark Walsh. They had landed the opener courtesy of Willie Mullins’ Icare Allen
Paddy Power are 12/1 from 16/1 about both Any Second Now and Escaria Ten for Liverpool glory in April.
Successful handler Ted Walsh said afterwards: "He can win at 2m or he can win at 3m or he can win at 3m2f. That's what you need going to the National, a bit of luck. He's in good old nick.
"Six weeks to go and he didn't have that hard of a race, he got a couple of smacks at the back of the last. He's 10 years of age.
"I'd say Burrows Saint probably has a problem with his puff again, he cut out very quickly turning in when travelling really well.
"The second horse (Escaria Ten) is a good horse. There was a Thyestes winner in it, a Kim Muir winner in it and an Irish National winner so it was a tidy race. The second horse was second in the four miler at Cheltenham and stays well.
"I was happy with my fella today and I'm glad I got a race into him. I'm delighted he got a few smacks and he had to go and do it. There was no point touring around. You want to be competitive as it is six weeks to the National, he needs to be fit and well for it.
"I'm delighted, I couldn't have asked for better. I was coming off the stand and I was delighted if he was second and I was delighted that the verdict went our way.
"He'll go there (Aintree) fit and well with a clear run and everything going right for him."
(MG & EM)
