Wichita on course for Fairyhouse follow-up Wichita Lineman is on course to attempt to follow up his dramatic Cheltenham Festival victory in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National. The eight-year-old, who has been allotted 11st, was among 47 left in the 250,000 handicap chase over three miles, five furlongs at Fairyhouse on Monday. Trainer Jonjo O'Neill reported JP McManus' gelding to be in fine form following the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase, in which he was given a brilliant ride by Tony McCoy. "He's come out of Cheltenham well and is in great form and going to Fairyhouse in good shape," said the Jackdaws Castle handler. "He goes on any ground, except the extremes - not too fast or heavy. "You never know if they'll get the trip or not. But he stayed on well at Cheltenham." Other English possibles are Bob Buckler's Niche Market (10st 1lb), the Ferdy Murphy-trained Poker De Sivola (9st 9lb) and Charlie Mann's Air Force One (11st 8lb). Dessie Hughes, successful with Timbera in 2003, has confirmed all four of his entries - Rare Bob (10st 5lb), Vic Venturi (10st 9lb), Justpourit (9st 12lb) and Oulart (9st 9lb). "Rare Bob is probably my best except that he is only a novice in his first handicap, which is a bit of a big ask," said the County Kildare trainer. "But novices have got a good record in it and Oulart was second as a novice. "He is a nice horse and I would like to see the top weight (Notre Pere) run. "Vic Venturi is a very consistent horse and is entitled to take his chance. "He likes good ground and stays well. His last race (in the Leinster National) was a good effort on heavy ground and he hasn't put in any bad runs this year. "Justpourit ran a good race at Navan and it wasn't a handicap. It was a conditions race and he acquitted himself well against horses that are much higher rated than him. "Everyone knows Oulart as he has run in the race a couple of times before including when second three years' ago. "He ran a good race in the Becher Chase at Aintree in November and is another of mine that likes good ground." Willie Mullins has trimmed down his original 10 entries to four, including Arbor Supreme (10st 5lb) and Emma Jane (9st 12lb). The Enda Bolger-trained Garde Champetre (10st 6lb), Charlie Swan's One Cool Cookie (10st 12lb) and Noel Meade's Casey Jones (10st 10lb) are other interesting contenders. The ground at Fairyhouse remains good to yielding. Racecourse general manager Caroline Gray said: We had 3.2 millimetres of rain on Tuesday. "It is dry today, with rain forecast for tonight and in the morning."'s Casey Jones (10st 10lb) are other interesting contenders. The ground at Fairyhouse remains good to yielding. Racecourse general manager Caroline Gray said: We had 3.2 millimetres of rain on Tuesday. "It is dry today, with rain forecast for tonight and in the morning."
