Keane Ace Heading To Scotland

All In The Stars is set to bypass Monday's Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National in favour of a tilt at the Scottish equivalent five days later.

Trainer Paul Keane is likely to take the eight-year-old out of Fairyhouse's three-mile-five-furlong showpiece at tomorrow's confirmation stage and keep him for the Gala Casinos Daily Record-sponsored contest at Ayr.

He said: 'I spoke to Anthea Morshead (clerk of the course at Ayr) and she tells me the ground is good to soft, soft in places with a good stretch in the last furlong.

'It's due to be dry next week but I would hope the ground would stay easy enough for him to run ? you could say I'm putting all my eggs in the Scottish basket!

'The plan is to pull him out of Ireland tomorrow but the horse is in very, very good shape and Ayr has been his target all season.

'Racing in Ireland is so competitive and you are always susceptible to an improving horse over there. I also feel the four miles and a furlong at Ayr will suit him better than the trip at Fairyhouse.'

All In The Stars has not run since taking the Country Gentlemen's Association Chase at Wincanton in February.

Keane side-stepped a trip to Cheltenham with the Fourstars Allstar gelding, while he also felt the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree might be too much of a challenge at this stage.

He explained: 'He's only a second-season novice so we didn't want to go there this year. It's an extremely nice prize at Ayr and much more his race at this stage.'

All In The Stars is also entered for the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown on April 29 and he will be left in that race as a fallback measure.

Keane added: 'He will remain in the Betfred in case he doesn't have a full race at Ayr for some reason or if the ground is not right ? I wouldn't run him on quick ground.'

(C) PA Sport