Conna Grand National run in the balance Conna Castle is not a certain runner in the John Smith's Grand National despite a fine run at Gowran Park last Friday. The Jimmy Mangan-trained 10-year-old failed by only three-quarters of a length to peg back shock winner Battle Axe over two miles. 'He ran a great race and he's come out of it good. The owners are not exactly sure about the National. Davy Russell rode him and he didn't seem to think he might be up to Aintree. We're undecided,' said Mangan. 'I may make an entry for Conna Castle at Navan on Saturday, and we'll decide later what to do. The fences at Aintree wouldn't be a problem, it'd probably be the trip - he's better at two and half miles, I'd say. At the moment it's in the balance. It's up to the owners, and it's their decision in the finish,' he added. Mangan reports his other Grand National entry Himalayan Trail to be on target for the four-and-a-half-mile feature. 'He's in good form, he's definitely going for it and I think we have a good chance of getting in now,' the trainer went on. 'Himalayan Trail is on target and he's really coming to himself. Barry Geraghty rode him in the Becher Chase there earlier in the season and I'll be asking him if he's nothing better to ride.' Geraghty won the National for Mangan on Monty's Pass in 2003. Himalayan Trail and Conna Castle, 33-1 and 66-1 respectively, are both on 10st 3lb at the moment but need a few horses to come out to make the cut.
