Dun Doire Bids For Seventh Straight Victory Trainer Tony Martin, successful with Davids Lad in 2001, bids to win his second Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday when he saddles Dun Doire in the €250,000 spectacular. Victorious in his last six races, including the William Hill Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month and the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in January, Dun Doire is the current ante-post favourite for the race in which there are 41 horses still remaining after today's (Wednesday) forfeit stage.Trainer Willie Mullins has never won the Irish National and after Hedgehunter's gallant attempt at Aintree last weekend, he will be hoping to go one better with his three representatives, Our Ben, Homer Wells and Joueur D'Estruval, while Michael O'Brien, successful three times in the Easter Monday highlight, has left in both Forget The Past and Banasan. Forget The Past was third to War Of Attrition and will have to carry top weight if he runs while Banasan was successful in the 2004 Kerry National at Listowel and is sure to have his supporters. There have been only five English trained winners of the race since 1985 and trainer Ferdy Murphy, successful with Granit D'Estruval in 2004, tries again with Supreme Developer, one of only two English raiders still engaged. The Francois Doumen trained Innox, well fancied for last week's English Grand National but a first fence faller on that occasion, could bid to become the first ever French trained winner at Fairyhouse and this Racing Post Chase winner would really add an international flavour to proceedings if taking his chance.Other notable entries still remaining are Philip Rothwell's Black Apalachi, winner of the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in December, Francis Flood's recent Uttoxeter Grand National winner G V A Ireland, and the Christy Roche trained Far From Trouble, third in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last month. Charlie Swan won this race as a jockey in 1993 on Ebony Jane and he could run both What A Native and One More Minute while Noel Meade, successful with The Bunny Boiler in 2002, could have three contenders with Harbour Pilot, Star Clipper and No Half Session figuring among the remaining entries.While Michael Hourigan has decided not to run Beef Or Salmon in the day's feature event, the horse is likely to run in the opening Racing Post In Ireland Hurdle over three miles or the Sherry Fitzgerald Hurdle (third race) over two and a half miles. An early casualty at Aintree last week having disappointed in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham before that, Beef Or Salmon has not raced over hurdles for nearly four years and will out to restore his confidence before bidding for the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown at the end of April.The first of eight races on a cracking Easter Monday card goes to post at 2.05 pm and there is a Jackpot Pool Guarantee of €30,000.
