Irish National winners in Cork National lineup The Paddy Power Cork Grand National takes centre stage at Cork on Sunday and the 3m4f E50,000 race features no less than two previous winners of the Irish Grand National along with two previous winners of the Munster National, September’s Kerry National winner and the 2012 Cork National winner. Raz De Maree won this race in 2012 for the late Dessie Hughes, having won the Muster National the previous month, but today bids to defy a four year losing streak for Sandra Hughes. Hughes was herself responsible for Thunder And Roses when the Gigginstown House Stud owned runner won the 2015 Irish Grand National but that gelding has since been transferred to trainer Mouse Morris who won this year’s Irish Grand National with today’s top weight Rogue Angel. In arguably the strongest renewal of the Cork National ever staged, Rogue Angel’s own half-brother Wrath Of Titans, also owned by Gigginstown, is another with claims, having won the September's Kerry National at Listowel. Gigginstown House Stud has yet to win the race and is also represented by Akorakor and Captain Von Trappe, with the Michael O’Leary owned runners accounting for five of the six highest weighted runners. Champion Trainer Willie Mullins won the race in 2009 with Our Monty and is today represented by the Ruby Walsh partnered novice New Kid In Town, himself a winner over this course n October, albeit over a mile shorter. Further down the weights at 10st1lbs A Decent Excuse bids to win the race for Cheltenham Festival winning local trainer Eugene O’Sullivan while J.P. McManus’ sole representative is Tom Horn, for trainer Noel Meade. By Tom Weekes
