Trainers with the strong hands for the rest of the jumps season: 'The Irish National could be ideal' The Cheltenham Festival is in the history books but there are still lots of major targets ahead for the National Hunt fraternity before they put their tools down for the summer recess. Fairyhouse, Aintree, Ayr, Sandown and Punchestown will all stage major meetings across the next six weeks, with lots of major graded action in store alongside the English, Irish and Scottish Grand Nationals. We're looking at some trainers with plenty to look forward to in the closing phase of the jumps campaign. Willie Mullins Gordon Elliott has been making the running in the Irish Trainers' Championship this season and around Christmas, many felt the Cullentra handler had a strong shot at denying Willie Mullins. Elliott's lead is now around €350,000 and the Mullins spring charge is looming. With Dan Skelton all but over the line in Britain, the Closutton chief won't be retaining his title there for a third year and, by consequence, will surely aim his darts at Fairyhouse and Punchestown, more so than the likes of Ayr and Sandown towards the end of the season. Bambino Fever, Selma De Vary, Kaid D'authie and Final Demand all hold Fairyhouse entries, while Lecky Watson, C'est Ta Chance, Argento Boy and Joystick are possibles for the Irish National on Easter Monday. Former winners I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett are Aintree-bound for the Grand National five days later and with no Cheltenham run, Fact To File will be deployed too along the way as well as some of Mullins' eight winners from the Cotswolds with Lossiemouth, Il Etait Temps and Gaelic Warrior possibly bound for Punchestown next. Colm Murphy Wexford trainer Colm Murphy did not have a single runner at this year's Cheltenham Festival but may soon reap the rewards of having skipped the Cotswolds showpiece. Murphy had the ammunition to fire but preferred instead to wait for targets closer to home. He's set for a real tilt at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival from April 4-6, with hugely promising mare Zanoosh leading the way in the Grade 1 Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle on the Sunday. The six-year-old continued her remarkable rise, landing a fourth consecutive victory and securing a first Grade 3 success at Limerick in the midst of Cheltenham. She did that with aplomb and is an exciting contender for top-level honours. On the same day, the JP McManus-trained Lovely Hurling is set to tackle the Grade 1 WillowWarm Gold Cup. He has been second in all three starts over fences this season, beaten by the likes of Arkle one-two Kargese and Kopek Des Bordes and could be capable of better still. The McManus homebred Goraibhmaithagat is set to try and give Murphy his first win in the Easter Monday showpiece at Fairyhouse. He's a Listed winner already and his trainer believes the longer trip in the Irish National could be ideal. While he doesn't have the ammunition of a Mullins or Elliott, it could still be an Easter Weekend to remember for Murphy, with Zanoosh in particular one to watch. Henry de Bromhead Henry de Bromhead yet again came good at Cheltenham as Heart Wood won the Ryanair Chase and Air Of Entitlement landed the Martin Pipe, taking the Knockeen handler to 27 career victories at the Cotswolds showpiece. It has been a slower season by his high standards, de Bromhead of course operating now without his trusty sidekick Rachael Blackmore. For all that, only Elliott and Mullins have won more prize money in Ireland. Elliott's season is in danger of petering out somewhat but de Bromhead could finish strongly. The Big Westerner is a major WillowWarm Gold Cup player and the likes of Slade Steel, Downmexicoway and promising mare Echoing Silence could join her at Fairyhouse. On Easter Monday, Waterford Whispers could tackle the Irish National while Monty's Star and Amirite are possible for Aintree on April 11. Wexford bumper winner Minella Machine and Navan maiden hurdle scorer Kilgame could be seen again while Cheltenham scorers Heart Wood and Air Of Entitlement are also likely to have big spring targets before signing off for the season.
