Beef among 87 entered for Irish National Beef Or Salmon is among the 87 entries for the 139th running of the 250,000 euro Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National to be run at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, March 24. The ten-time Grade 1 winning chaser was taken out of the John Smith´s Grand National but trainer Michael Hourigan confirmed his intention to run at Fairyhouse saying, ´He?s a 12-year-old now and the time has come to let him take his chance. Whatever concession the handicapper makes will be very much welcome.´ Irish National Hunt handicapper Noel O?Brien said, ´To take a separate view of this race, particularly as it?s over a considerable distance of three miles and five furlongs, isn?t unreasonable, so I intend dropping Beef Or Salmon a little from his current mark of 163.´ O?Brien, speaking before the Fairyhouse Easter Festival luncheon at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin, added, ´After all, this horse was allotted top-weight for the John Smith´s Grand National but his owner and trainer have decided to aim him for the Irish equivalent which is a testament to the quality of the Fairyhouse race.´ British-trained runners have won two of the last four runnings of the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National and O?Brien intends treating the 13 overseas challengers similarly to previous years. ´Last year the perception was that it was difficult for British-trained horses to win Irish handicaps but they filled the first two places home at Fairyhouse when Butler?s Cabin beat Nine De Sivola. It promises to be another quality contest.´ Willie Mullins has never won the race before but he has 12 entries including Snowy Morning and Pomme Tiepy, while the back in form Noel Meade has five entered including Mattock Ranger and Well Run. Speaking at the launch of the four-day Easter Festival, Caroline Gray, General Manager of Fairyhouse Racecourse said, ´The Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National is the sporting highlight in Ireland or Britain on Easter Monday. ´Public interest in the Festival weekend is very high and we expect to have over 40,000 visitors over the four days. I promise them a special blend of quality racing, family fun and the unique traditions of Easter at Fairyhouse.´
