Big Irish Hope in Offshore He is out of a full-sister to the brilliant banks horse, Risk Of Thunder, he is a half-brother to The Listener and Cheltenham winner, Fork Lightning and as a Grade 1 winner himself it is easy to see why Offshore Account is emerging as a very big Irish hope for today's Grand National. The Brian Polly owned son of Oscar had his finest hour in the Grade 1 Ellier Developments Hanover Quay Champion Novice Chase at the 2007 Punchestown Festival. He was likely beaten in that three mile one furlong event until Aces Four crashed out at the last. His handler, Charlie Swan has high hopes for his first runner in the John Smith's Grand National. The Irish trainer, remembered most as a jockey for his association with triple Champion Hurdle winner Istabraq, completed the Grand National six times in nine attempts as a rider. He never won the world's most famous steeplechase and the closest he came was when he was second past the post on Cahervillahow in the infamous void National 16 years ago. It would be a remarkable training performance if he could produce Offshore Account to win the National with just one prep race after the gelding had 15 months on the sidelines. "He was out for a year with a leg injury. He had a slight tendon injury then about a month or two ago a splint came up," said Swan. "That delayed us for a little bit and he ran three weeks ago and finished second in a hurdle race in Naas. "Obviously I would have liked to have run him a chase but I didn't get the chance. He's schooling nicely at home over National-type fences and he is a good jumper. He's jumped really well over the fences we've had built for him. "He's won on a Grade One on good ground at Punchestown. He's a half-brother to The Listener, he's in good order and I'm very happy with him. "If he jumps well and gets a clear passage he'd definitely have a chance."
