Now, the maestro of Lisaleen Stables has a wonderful star on his hands more than capable of pulling-off a victory in the world’s most famous race.  Struggling for a bit of form over the last while, Hi Cloy (6/1) really-turned on the style at Thurles to easily win the €50,000 Grade 2 MacLochlainn Road Markings Ltd Kinloch Brae Chase.

Commented Hourigan:  “We never traveled in the Durkan (Punchestown) or at Kempton (King George), but you could see earlier this week at home that he was right back to his best.  I’m going to chance him in the English National now.  Ginger McCain tried to buy the horse a few times and failed and he should know what is required!”

Hourigan’s only previous success in the Kinloch Brae came with Amberleigh House in Millennium Year.  That horse, of course, was subsequently sold to McCain and went on to win the Aintree Showpiece in 2004.

This year’s Aintree Festival is a little bit earlier this time around, April 3-5.

Accorry More (3/1) – trained in South Limerick by Jerry O’Neill – atoned for his second-placed effort at Avaune last moving when receiving an ultra-confident ride from Kevin Power in eclipse fellow ex-track performer Midnight Run in the seven-year-old and upwards gelding meeting at the rescheduled Muskerry Foxhounds point-to-point meeting at Dromatimore, near Aghabullogue.

In a style quite reminiscent of the infamous 1993 Aintree Grand National, there was a break-down in communications between the riders and the starter in the closing race.  Although four of the original 16 starters finished the course, the stewards, following lengthy deliberations, declared the race void.