Irish National hero takes cross country route The road that connections of Freewheelin Dylan hope will lead to Aintree next April for the Randox Health Grand National commences with a new venture at Cheltenham on Friday. The nine-year-old gelding, who enjoyed his finest hour to-date when making virtually all in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, switches his attention to the cross country sphere later this week. The unique variety of obstacles in cross country has proved a fruitful prep for a number of National winners, notably Tiger Roll, and trainer Dermot McLoughlin reports his stablestar in good shape. “He runs in the cross country at Cheltenham on Friday. He seems well and has taken the jumping well,” said the Ratoath trainer before adding, “It’s a different discipline altogether and he wouldn’t want to be carrying top-weight in staying chases over the winter. “We’ll try and save him for Liverpool next April.” Other Irish-trained entries in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase include the Henry de Bromhead pair Balko Des Flos and Plan Of Attack, Gordon Elliott’s Alpha Des Obeaux and Philip Rothwell’s Singing Banjo.
