O'Brien assesses Irish National hopes Irish handicapper Noel O'Brien nominated Champagne West as a horse to potentially run well in the Randox Health Grand National. Always highly thought of by Philip Hobbs, he has shown just what he is made of since joining Henry de Bromhead after ironing out his jumping problems. A win at Tramore was followed by a dominant display in the usually informative Thyestes Chase and he ran himself into the Gold Cup reckoning. O'Brien also gave good mentions to Gordon Elliott's Ucello Conti and Willie Mullins' Pleasant Company. "When you look at the top end there are serious Grade One horses, but it's a big ask for them in a handicap," he told Racing UK. "But the way the National has gone it is almost like a limited handicap, the weight range is not as great as it was in the past and the better horses have more chance than every before. "Champagne West was terrific in the Thyestes. Henry de Bromhead deserves credit as he always had loads of potential but his jumping got in the way. "He went from a Listed race in Tramore to bolt up under a big weight in the Thyestes. In the past that race has been a good guide. "He seems to have found his confidence and he is still a dark horse. "Quirky horses have won it in the past and he falls into that category. "When horses with jumping problems are cured the National is a great race for them, Rule The World was a three-season novice and that experience was crucial. "I thought Ucello Conti might look interesting as he has experience of the fences. I was also impressed with Pleasant Company on his comeback in the Thyestes, those two might go well at bigger prices."
