O'Brien ponders Grand National for Edwulf Former Irish Gold Cup hero Edwulf is a possibility to represent Joseph O’Brien in the Randox Health Grand National. O’Brien has carried all before him so far in his short career to date, winning Australia’s greatest race, the Melbourne Cup, with Rekindling in 2017 and the 2018 Irish Derby with Latrobe. His biggest jumps success to date was provided by Edwulf at Leopardstown last year. Given 11st 1lb in the initial weights for Aintrre on April 6, the JP McManus-owned 10-year-old was eighth in the Savills Chase at Christmas and most recently third in the Red Mills Chase over two and a half miles at Gowran. O’Brien said: “The Randox Health Grand National could be a possibility for Edwulf. “We have been slightly disappointed with him this term. He ran OK at Gowran Park last weekend when he jumped well, but just got tired in the closing stages. “He is not entered in any races at the Cheltenham Festival, so I’m not too sure where he goes next, but we will keep our options open. “The English National will come into consideration. He has a nice weight for the race and we will discuss it. The Irish National could also be something we consider.” O’Brien’s father, Aidan, had one runner in the National when he was primarily a jumps handler in the 1990s, saddling Life Of A Lord to come home seventh to Rough Quest in 1996.
