Grand National runners & riders Siegemaster (Davy Russell) heads a final field of 30 for the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday. The Dessie Hughes inmate will shoulder 11st 7lb in the stamina sapping three-mile-five-furlong contest but his trainer is not too concerned about the weight. "He's got to carry top-weight but 11st 7lb isn't too bad. He carried 11st 8lb in the Thyestes Chase and led over the last, so it should be fine," said Hughes. "He's been running well in good handicaps all year and I think he'll give another good account of himself on Monday, the extra five furlongs will be the question. "It's going to be heavy ground and that will tell on them all, but you wouldn't know who will stay the trip. "We'll give it a go and we know our horse goes in the ground at least." Tony Martin's Saddlers Storm (David Casey) is the ante-post favourite and will carry 10st 1lb, Paul Nolan's Alpha Ridge (Alain Cawley) has been the subject of a big gamble during the week and he gets in on 10st 8lb. Champion trainer Willie Mullins saddles, Equus Maximus (Ruby Walsh), Ballytrim (Paul Townend) and Pomme Tiepy (Katie Walsh). There are just three British contenders with Venetia Williams sending Flintoff (Kevin Coleman) and Officier De Reserve (Aidan Coleman). Bob Buckler, who won the race last year with Niche Market, is represented by Double Dizzy (Nathan Sweeney). The other runners and riders are Church Island (Peter John Carberry), Ambobo (Paddy Flood), Oscar Time (Robbie Power), Dancing Tornado (Tony McCoy), One Cool Cookie (Keith Donoghue), Whatuthink (Paddy Mangan), Moskova (Barry Geraghty), Telenor (Andrew Lynch), Hangover (Niki O’Shea), A New Story (Adrian Heskin), Across The Bay (Paul Carberry), Beckett Rock (Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden), Operation Houdini (Sean Flanagan), Bluesea Cracker (Andrew McNamara), Knock On The Head (Mark Walsh), Selection Box (Eddie O’Connell), Stewarts House (Robbie Moran), Will Jamie Run (Conor Maxwell), Bronte Bay (Tom Doyle), Leanne (Robbie Colgan) and Agus A Vic (Andrew Thornton).
