'Crossing the water hoping for victory' - Irish horses running in the UK this weekend There is a stellar weekend of jumps action ahead, with the Tingle Creek at Sandown and Aintree's Becher Chase over the famous Grand National fences amongst the highlights in Britain. Ahead of the weekend, we are taking a look at the Irish horses crossing the water hoping for victory. Saturday Gaelic Arc - William Hill Racing Winnings Boost Handicap Chase - Aintree 1.30 John Ryan sends Gaelic Arc to Liverpool bidding to gain a third chase success at the 28th attempt. His most recent success was at Kilbeggan in June over 2m4f and he looks up against it on the balance of his form in this Class 2 event at Aintree. Bibe Mus - William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Wirral Juvenile Hurdle (Listed) - Aintree 2.05 Ross O'Sullivan saddles Bibe Mus in the familiar double green of the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede ownership in this Listed contest. The Camelot gelding was a soft-ground winner on the Flat in France and won a maiden over timber at Gowran Park on hurdles bow in October. His Down Royal third behind Mange Tout last month looks all the better after Gordon Elliott's charge won the BAR 1 Betting Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse last weekend, taking out Willie Mullins' Narciso Has. Bioluminescence & Roi Mage - William Hill Half A Mill Becher Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) - Aintree 2.40 The Becher Chase is one of Aintree's standout early season contests over the National Fences, but no Irish horse has prevailed since the late Dessie Hughes gained successive wins with Black Apalachi and Vic Venturi in 2008 and 2009. Anything Gavin Cromwell sends across to Britain must be respected and his mud-loving mare Bioluminescence comes here after a solid reappearance behind Spindleberry at Clonmel in November. Her only blot came in the Irish Grand National back in April and she looks a player with Keith Donoghue riding. Patrick Griffin's teenager Roi Mage joins the mare, 90 days after proving he retains plenty of ability when he won in Listed company in France. Il Etait Temps - Betfair Tingle Creek Chase (Grade 1) - Sandown 3.00 Five runners will contest the Tingle Creek and amongst them is course and distance winner Il Etait Temps for Willie Mullins, as the champion trainer seeks his first win in the Sandown feature since Un De Sceaux scored in 2016. Mullins is represented by Il Etait Temps, who won the bet365 Celebration Chase here over track and trip in the spring, condemning Jonbon to a first defeat at Sandown. That Nicky Henderson inmate arrives off the back of a chastening Cheltenham second behind Dan Skelton's L'eau Du Sud in the Shloer Chase last month. The trio are all lining up here and it makes for a fascinating contest. Mullins' runner is the odd-on jolly, but second-season chaser L'eau Du Sud could be a big danger. It isn't even Christmas, but if the Skelton horse can pocket this near-£100k prize - and do so at Mullins' expense - what a fillet it could be for the championship-seeking trainer.
