Interesting American National in prospect There is plenty of Irish and UK interest in the American Grand National over hurdles at Far Hills on Saturday evening. Favourite with bookmakers this side of the Atlantic is Nicky Henderson's Hunt Ball, who has won three novice hurdles since finishing fourth over Aintree's Grand National fences in the Topham in April. Hunt Ball's former stablemate Dawalan, now trained by Cyril Murphy, was third in a Grade One on his American debut behind ex-Jessica Harrington inmate Bob Le Beau. The Jack Doyle-ridden Rawnaq, previously trained by Matthew Smith, is another familiar name along with Gordon Elliott's Eshtiaal, who will be ridden by Barry Geraghty. "We'll go over, learn a bit about it and meet some good people," Elliott told At The Races. "Eshtiaal is a nicely-rated horse form the Flat and he'd have an each-way chance. "Dawalan, Rawnaq, Hunt Ball, the ones we know, are all getting on in years. "Our lad is five and he's improving."
