Court tops Fairyhouse weights

The 2000 winner Commanche Court and runner-up Foxchapel King headed 73 entries - 20 from Britain - unveiled today for the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

The 131st running of the Irish National, which carries ;euro&170,000 in total prize money, could be a top-class affair with Nicky Henderson`s Marlborough and Philip Hobbs`s What`s Up Boys next in the list.

Commanche Court has top weight of 12st - 1lb more than Foxchapel King - after his career-best effort when second to Best Mate in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Gold Cup fourth Marlborough and fifth What`s Up Boys are on 11-9 and 11-4 respectively, with veteran Dorans Pride sharing 10-10 with Papillon, a stablemate of Commanche Court at Ted Walsh`s yard.

Ferdy Murphy`s Paris Pike, among the leading Martell Grand National contenders, is on 10-9, 1lb ahead of last year`s runner up Rathbawn Prince.

Hughie Morrison`s Cheltenham winner Frenchman`s Creek is on 10-7, the same mark as leading novice Harbour Pilot who was a casualty in the Royal & SunAlliance Novice Chase at the Festival.

Streamstown (Ferdy Murphy) is on 10-4 while Nicky Henderson`s The Bushkeeper, who also scored at Cheltenham, has been allocated 10-1.

Other interesting contenders are Gunther McBride, a stable companion of What`s up Boys, who is on 9-11 with Charlie Swan`s stable star This is Serious given 9-9 and The Bunny Boiler, winner of last Saturday`s Midlands National at Uttoxeter, now due to carry 9-7.

Timbera from the Dessie Hughes stable and the Henderson-trained Ceanannas Mor which both were runners up at the Cheltenham Festival catch the eye on 9-4 and 9-2 respectively.

The Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National is the centrepiece of the four-day Easter Festival at Fairyhouse which begins on March 31st.