Goonyella set for Clonmel on Thursday Crabbie's Grand National entry Goonyella is to have his first start of 2014 in Thursday's Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel. Trainer Jim Dreaper's hand has been slightly forced with his chaser, who has never run over hurdles but is appearing in a Grade Three event which features a few useful youngsters like Don Poli, The Job Is Right and Railway Zira. Goonyella's season had been mapped out towards the Coral Welsh National, but due to bad weather he had to spend a few days in Chepstow and only finished eighth in the end. Dreaper said: "He had a pretty tiring trip to Wales so I gave him a month off and as long as Clonmel's on, he'll run. "In Ireland, it isn't the same as in England, as you can't run in a maiden hurdle if you've won a chase, so we've got to take on winners. "I'm not too concerned about the result, he's been jumping a bit higher and slower than we'd like so hopefully this will help." Goonyella is 75th on the National list with 10st 1lb and Dreaper said: "I'd like it if 20 horses could be taken out of it, but if he gets in, then we'd like to run at Aintree. "He won't go to Cheltenham and it wouldn't be ideal to go for something like the Midlands National, as it's only three weeks away from Aintree."
