In-form Harrington 'very happy' with Our Duke Our Duke bids to continue trainer Jessica Harrington's amazingly successful season in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday. Winner of the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, the seven-year-old just failed to complete a Grade One double when a mistake at the last fence proved costly and he was narrowly beaten by Disko in the Flogas Novice Chase back at the Dublin venue. "He'll need a bit of luck in the race, he had a good school the other day and we were very happy with him," said the Co Kildare trainer. "As long as he can get into a rhythm early on, avoid the carnage and traffic jams and whatever. His full-brother gets three miles well so I can't see the trip being a problem to him. "The handicap is fairly compact which will help and makes it a better class race. "I haven't won the National before so to win one would be great." Jockey Robbie Power, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Sizing John for Harrington, is hoping Our Duke can overcome his relative inexperience. "He has a chance, lack of experience is against him as he's only had the three runs over fences in smallish fields," he said. "He's only a novice but, saying that, novices do have a great record in the race. "He's a Grade One winner over three miles in novice company so we know he's got plenty of ability." Willie Mullins has surprisingly yet to win an Irish National and he goes into battle with three runners - Haymount, Arbre De Vie and Sambremont. Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, feels the first-named is their best hope of giving the Closutton team an overdue success. "I think Haymount has got to have a great chance," he said. "He stayed on well in the four-miler in Cheltenham (when third to Tiger Roll) and I think the strong pace in a race like the Irish National will suit him. "He's better going right-handed, he's got a nice weight and will love the ground being by Presenting. "Katie Walsh felt Arbre De Vie was going to run very well in the four-miler in Cheltenham until he clipped heels and came down on the flat. "He's still a maiden over fences, but his run behind Acapella Bourgeois in Navan is top-class form and maybe he can win a National as a maiden, just like Rule The World did in Aintree last year. "Sambremont has been disappointing this year. We think he's better than his mark and there's a day in him, but we're just hoping he'll get his act together as what he's shown on the track isn't as good as what he's been showing at home. "Maybe the drying ground will help him."
