Irish National weights unveiled

The weights for the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National were unveiled at a lunch at Fairyhouse this afternoon, two weeks ahead of the race on Easter Monday.

Aintree hero Ballabriggs has been given top weight of 11st10lb in the 3m5f event but has already been ruled out after his exertions on Saturday.

Another English-trained runner, Synchronised, is next in the pecking order, off 11st8lb, while Majestic Concorde, a casualty at Aintree, is top-rated of the Irish on 11st6lb.

New sponsors Ladbrokes have priced up the race with Beautiful Sound installed as 7/1 favourite.

Gordon Elliott's charge is number 64 on the list, however, and will need considerable defections to make the line up.

Due to the uncertainty over the final field the firm are offering a non-runner no bet policy.

Elliott has five entries, including Backstage, who finished 10th at Aintree on Saturday.

"Backstage (10-9) is fine after Aintree and is an intended runner," said the Trim trainer.

"Obviously I'm hoping that both Tharawaat (10-0) and Beautiful Sound (9-10) get into the race.

"Chicago Grey (11-4) is better on a left-hand track so we may be going to Ayr, though I'm not ruling him out.”

Handicapper Noel O'Brien revealed that the weights were not finalised until this weekend after a meeting with his English counterpart.

“I met the English handicapper and we went over them. The 23 English entries took the longest. Ballabriggs wouldn't have been topweight before Saturday.

“It was easy to drop him a few pounds (from his official rating) as the chance of him coming is remote. He is 3lb lower than his UK mark.

“This is not a normal three-mile handicap. The top weights over the last ten years have struggled so taking a pound or two off the top horses gives them more opportunity.

“The English have won three of the last seven. I just try to make sure that all horses are competitive should they be English, Irish or French.

O'Brien is impressed with the quality of the entry:-

“I see the sponsors have Beautiful Sound as favourite and I thought he ran a blinder at Cheltenham and was nearest at the finish.

“It says an awful lot about the quality of the race, however, that he might not get in.

“Last year's favourite Saddlers Storm was travelling well until falling six out but he's the same as Beautiful Sound in that he's quite low.

“It's very often won by an improving novice that is ahead of the handicapper – the likes of Chicago Grey.

“He won the four-miler at Cheltenham and has improved all season. The long trip should suit and it looks like he'll get the ground.

“It's a hugely important race. It looks well up to standard this year and hopefully a lot of the big names run.”

Gary Carson