O'Sullivan eyeing National Trial with Iles Trainer Ross O'Sullivan is to aim his Saturday's Punchestown winner Baie Des Iles at the same venue's Grand National Trial at the end of January, and will bypass Gowran's Thyestes Chase with the five year old mare. The French bred winner got off the mark in Ireland, under a well judged ride from Derek O'Connor on Saturday and O'Sullivan today stated “the Thyestes and some of the other big handicaps might come a year too soon with Baie Des Iles but I'm looking at the Grand National Trial at Punchestown for her next. “I've spoken to a few people with connections in France and they seem to be saying that some of the horses need a break when they arrive in Ireland as they've had hard three and four year old careers. “I stopped with Baie Des Iles last April and she had a good break but is still only five and is already 17 hands. She's only now starting to get stronger now and with soft ground the key to her, you'd be dreaming of winning races like the Welsh National or Midlands National at Uttoxeter. “She could also be an Irish National type mare but not this year; Organisedconfusion won it as a six year old, you have to go back to Rhyme 'n' Reason (in 1985) for another six year old winner.” By Tom Weekes
