INIS CARA TO JOIN WILLIAMS English trainer Venetia Williams today became the beneficiary of a dispute between Michael Hourigan and the owners of Martell Grand National candidate Inis Cara. The nine-year-old is set to leave Ireland and be transferred to Williams before Saturday`s stg£500,000 spectacular. Tempers have flared between Hourigan and owners, the Nancy Hogan Syndicate, after a difference of opinion in Aintree riding plans. The owners have booked Robert Widger to partner Inis Cara but Hourigan prefers Robbie McNally. However, the syndicate have also expressed their wish to have the horse trained in Britain. 'It`s looking like Inis Cara will be trained by Venetia Williams when he runs in the National,' said an angry Hourigan. 'I`m not sure exactly what`s happening but I think the horse is going to be taken away either tomorrow or on Friday.' McNally guided Inis Cara to victory in the £125,000 Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in 1999. 'Robbie won a valuable race on the horse and has done well. I could only understand this if they were giving the ride to somebody better,' said Hourigan. 'I am disappointed about the whole thing as I believe Inis Cara does have a good each-way chance.' Pat Quinn, who heads the syndicate confirmed the switch. He said: 'The horse cannot return to Ireland after the Grand National and we are sending him to Venetia Williams who will take charge when the horse gets to Aintree on Thursday. 'We realise that Michael has done very well with Inis Cara but we want a horse trained in England and, as there are the restrictions about the Irish runners returning home, we decided to put him with Venetia. 'Venetia now officially has the authority to act and Inis Cara will be running for her yard on Saturday.' Several running and riding plans for the National remain to be resolved over the next few days. Ground conditions will dictate which of County Durham-based Norman Mason`s pair Red Ark and Red Marauder line up on Saturday. It will also be decision time for Tony McCoy tomorrow as he seeks to lay to rest a National jinx. The champion has failed to complete the course on all his five attempts. McCoy is spoilt for choice with his main employer Martin Pipe holding an extremely powerful hand. 'Realistically I`ve got 10 to choose from - so it`s going to be difficult. I`m going to go to the course to see what the ground`s like in the morning - but it`s a decision I`ve got to get right,' he said. McCoy was not offering any clues but he may well opt for Dark Stranger - the shortest-priced of Pipe`s acceptors - from whom he was unseated at the third fence 12 months ago.
