National Still Long-Term Aim For Doire

Dun Doire is to enjoy a well-earned break after being taken off his feet in the John Smith's Grand National on Saturday.

Tony Martin's eight-year-old headed ante-post lists for the four-and-a-half-mile marathon at one point, but the decent ground did not play to his strengths and he was eventually pulled up.

Dun Doire has come out of the race unscathed, however, and could return for another crack in the future if the ground swings in his favour.

County Meath-based Martin said: 'He's fine ? not a bother. He looked after himself really and he's 100 per cent afterwards.

'He's just too slow on that ground unfortunately and we were hoping he'd prove a point. He did that, but in the wrong way!

'That's him for the year now, but we'd have to consider coming back for the National next year.

'Red Marauder won it that year when it was bottomless (2001) and if we got rain we'd look silly for not having him there.

'He's only eight so hopefully there are plenty of good years left in him yet.'

(C) PA Sport