Al Eile begins Aintree preparation at Dundalk The John Queally trained Al Eile begins his historic quest for a fourth Aintree Hurdle win, when he reappears in the Dundalk On-Course Bookmakers Race, over 1m4f, at Dundalk on Friday. The gelding, absent since sustaining a suspensory ligament injury since running his last race at Aintree in 2008, bids to equal Morley Street's record of four wins in the Aintree race. Although originally thought to be out for the whole season, Al Eile's recovery has pleased Queally who stated "things have gone better than expected with him and plenty of swimming seems to have helped get him right," said Queally on Monday. "He has done a fair bit of work since coming back in and the plan is to run on Friday. Hopefully, Fran Berry will be able to take the ride." Al Eile also won the Aintree Grade 1 event in 2005 and 2007, along with a novice event at the meeting five years ago, and while Queally would dearly love to return to his favourite track, he intends taking things "one step at the time".
