Ted Walsh has said that he is willing to wait until next week to decide whether his son Ruby or daughter Katie will ride Seabass in the Aintree Grand National.

Walsh trained Papillon to win the 2000 Aintree Grand National and now he has a strong contented with Seabass this year. Seabass has won his last seven starts and was very impressive when battling to beat Zaarito at Naas last time out.

Champion jockey Ruby Walsh who rode Papillon to win in 2000 and also Hedgehunter for his boss Willie Mullins in 2005 has a tough call to make this year in deciding whether to ride Seabass or one of champion trainer Willie Mullins' team.

Up until last Saturday it was looking

Katie Walsh may get the chance to ride Seabass in this year’s Aintree Grand National as her brother Ruby may take the ride on Willie Mullins Prince De Beauchene.

Although Katie’s brother Ruby is first in line to take the ride, connections of Seabass would be just as happy if Katie had to ride the horse.

Seabass is unbeaten in his last seven starts and seems to have improved from each of his runs this season and was last seen winning the Grade Two paddypower.com Steeplechase at Naas.

Speaking today, Pat Glynn who formed The Gunners Syndicate in whose colours

Leopardstown hosts it final National Hunt meeting of the season on Sunday with the first of seven races due off to post at 2:00. Many of the Cheltenham horses will also have a gallop after racing as a final prep for the Cheltenham Festival.

Willie Mullins is represented by Lord Gale in the opening

The Grand National weights were announced yesterday with the Jonjo O’Neill trained Synchronised receiving top weight of 11stone 10pounds. Synchronised is owned by JP McManus and was a very impressive winner of the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas and even bypassed the Welsh National at Chepstow to take his chance at the Lexus Chase.

Last year’s winner Ballabriggs who defeated Oscar Time has been allotted a further nine pounds than his weight last year and he will now carry 11st 9lb should he take his chance in the world’s richest steeplechase race.

David Pipe’s Junior is certain to get into the race this year after just failing last year. The nine year old gelding who won the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival last year has been given a weight of 11st 2lb. Junior is currently best priced at

Leopardstown host a two day meeting with some top quality action on offer over the two days including the seasonal reappearance of Hurricane Fly in the BHP Irish Champion Hurdle on Sunday.

The first of seven races go to post at 1:10 at the Foxrock venue.

The opening Leopardstown.com Maiden Hurdle gives the Dermot Weld trained Hisaabaat an excellent chance to break his duck over the timber obstacles. Andrew Lynch who recorded his first flat winner at Dundalk last night takes the ride and the main danger looks to be Darroun from the inform Willie Mullins stable.

The ITBA Expo 2012 Maiden Hurdle will see Aupcharlie go off favourite. Aupcharlie has been a little bit disappointing over

Dundalk hosts it usual all weather card tonight with the first of eight races due off to post at 5:50 at the county Louth venue.

The opening Group Booking at Dundalk Rated Race looks a wide open contest with Tsar Paul holding every chance following a close second to Farmleigh house last week at the venue. An interesting runner to note is the Mark Johnson trained Joe Le Taxi and should be noted if any moves occur in the betting.

The Fundraising Made Easy At Dundalk Maiden has attracted eight runners and the King of Dundalk; Ger Lyons is represented by Roman General. Johhny Murtagh is booked to ride but the main danger looks to be the Edward Lynam trained Atticus Finch who finished

Fairyhouse hosts a seven race National Hunt card with the first race due off to post at 12:30 at the Ratoath venue.

The opening Racegoer’s €25 Package Maiden Hurdle looks a very interesting contest as it sees Caolaneoin make his hurdling debut. Having finished second to Lovethehigherlaw at Fairyhouse and then won his bumper at Leopardstown, he looked to be a horse to follow but then he disappointed in the Champion

Fairyhouse Preview and Selections

Fairyhouse, the home of the Irish Grand National host a seven race national hunt card with the first race due off to post at 12:55.

The opening three year old Maiden Hurdle looks set to be a battle between the Noel Meade trained Leroy Parker and Gordon Elliott’s His Excellency. Leroy Parker finished one place ahead of the Davy Russell ridden His Excellency last time out but preference is for Elliott’s three year old who should improve from the Down Royal run. Ted Walsh’s Rossvoss and Dermot Weld’s El Toreros should be noted if any move in the market happens.

Staying Article should be well primed for his seasonal debut and the Edward O’Grady trained six year old looks the one to beat in the Fairyhouse Premier National Hunt Weekend Hurdle. Grand National winner Organisedconfusion looks the main danger but may need the run.

Ceol Rua looks the one to support in the Christmas Party Race Day on 17^th December Maiden Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh having finished a close third last time out but Joanna Morgan’s Ted Dolly made a nice hurdling debut at Galway when finishing second to Letter of Credit and he looks the main danger.

The Trinity College Horse Racing Society Handicap Hurdle looks a wide open race and will see Limerick winner Luke’s Benefit dominate the betting. An interesting horse who could run another big race is Monahullan Prince from the Gerard Keane stables and he looks a solid each way bet with Andrew Thornton booked to ride. Bay Of Kotor looks another danger.

Sous Les Cieux looks the one to bank on in the Fairyhouse Membership 2012 Maiden Hurdle. The Willie Mullins trained was last seen finishing second at Fairyhouse last January and looks the one to beat. Charlie Swan’s Rourke’s Cross looks the main danger.

The former Trevor Hemmings owned Cranky Corner who was trained by Willie Mullins, Jonjo O’Neill and Sue Smith makes his debut for his new trainer John “Shark” Hanlon in the Gurteen Agricultural Handicap and looks a solid each way bet as Paul Townend takes the ride. Jessica Harington’s Meitheamh shouldn’t be ruled out either.

The Follow Nina Carberry on Twitter Flat race has only attracted seven runners but it looks set to be a battle between the amateurs. Nina Carberry takes the ride on the JP McManus owned Please Talk for her boss Noel Meade, whilst Kate Harrington takes the ride on Celtic Cailin who is trained by her mother. Willie Mullins saddles Are Ya Right Chief and his son Patrick takes the ride and he shouldn’t be ruled out after two nice runs last season.

 

Fairyhouse Selections

12:55 His Excellency

1:25 Staying Article

1:55 Ceol Rua

2:25 Monahullan Prince each way

2:55 Sous Les Cieux

3:25 Cranky Corner each way

3:55 Are Ya Right Chief

In other horse racing news, Hurricane Fly has been ruled out of Sunday's Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown but still is 7/4 with BetPack.com to gain back to back Champion Hurdle wins at Cheltenham 2012.

Happy Punting – Giddy Up

Limerick Preview and Selections

 

Limerick hosts a seven race card at its Patrickswell venue with the first race on Munster National day due off at 2:30.

The opening Isobel Boutique Adare Hurdle for four year olds has only attracted six runners and the Edward O’Grady trained Sailors Warn is likely to go off short priced favourite but Jessica Harrington’s Magical Memoir looks the pick having ran a few nice races this year. Mark Bolger claims a valuable three pounds off her back.

Jessica Harrington’s Beir Rua landed a nice gamble in handicap company at Listowel and looks set to run another big race in the Beamish Stout AndrewHandicap Hurdle. Pat Martin who scored with Lucky Springs at Fairyhouse yesterday saddles Niveks Dream and despite falling at Downpatrick last time out over the larger obstacles, he should run a true race.

Royal Reveille looks set to go off favourite for the father and son combination of Ted and Ruby Walsh in the Grade Three Greenmount Park Novices Hurdle but the Paul Nolan trained Acapulco Gold looks a massive danger. Andrew McNamara takes the ride on the four-year-old son of Azamour who finished sixth in the Lartigue at Listowel.

Thomas Cooper’s Coole Avenue narrowly went down at Tipperary last time out and he looks a solid each way bet in the Oakbruce Properties Handicap Hurdle with his talented son Bryan taking the ride.

The Munster National looks a wide-open race with the Charles Byrnes Bideford Legend hoping to take the glory following his gallant second in the Kerry National at Listowel. Uncle Junior, Michael Winter’s mare For Bill, last years winner Golden Kite and Muirhead all hold each way chances but preference is for the Paul Nolan trained Arklow Ger who could just come back to his top form.

Henry De Bromhead’s Loosen My Load should justify short odds in the Grade Three PricewaterhouseCoopers Steeplechase. Evan Williams sends over West With The Wind and he looks the main danger. Just Friends and Imperial Shabra make up the remainder of the field.

Mayday Frontier can break his duck over fences in the concluding STL Logistics European Breeders Fund Beginners Steeplechase for local trainer Charles Byrnes and Philip Enright.

 

 Limerick Selections

2:30 Magical Memoir

3:00 Niveks Dream each way

3:30 Acapulco Gold

4:00 Coole Avenue each way

4:35 Arklow Ger each way

5:05 Loosen My Load

5:40 Mayday Frontier

Happy Punting – Giddy Up

What a weekend we have in store, Ireland are set to kick off their World Cup Campaign, The Curragh have a serious card on Saturday, and The Listowel festival kicks off on Sunday. I watched the New Zealand v Tonga game this morning and I was happy to see that the All Blacks haven't quite hit top gear yet. Having lived over there ten years ago I can only imagine that back lash that they will get in the press and the added pressure might strengthen them or cause them to shake even more as they are already under serious pressure to perform on their home soil. My money is still on South Africa and who knows I might even have another go at them after the All Blacks performance today.

 

Anyhow back to racing and The Curragh hosts a cracking card this Saturday with the highlight of the day being The Irish Field St Ledger, it is very hard to see Fame and Glory not winning this race, I know he got beat the last day but one bad run doesn't undo plenty of good ones and that defeat will make him an even money shot and I will be getting stuck into that. The most interesting race of the day is The Goffs National Stakes, Power got turned over here the last day but maybe he can turn that run around and prove how good he really his, I will be backing Dragons Pulse, he has been class in his two wins and looks to be improving with every run, he should be a bit of value so he is the one for me.

The Amateur Derby is also on Saturday and the John Oxx trained Minsk looks the most likely to come up in front, I am will backing Paramount each way, he should be around the 10/1 12/1 mark and is sure run another big race.

Listowel on Sunday throws up a decent enough card, Chill looks to be good value on the 3yo hurdle. He comes from the Dessie Hughes stable and is sure to know his job, The second race looks a dead match between Salute Him and Plan A, Salute Him just shades it in my opinion. The Maiden hurdle looks a tricky enough race but the Andrew McNamara trained Trabajo should give you a good run for your money. The mares race throws up some good value in Adropaupep, this Charles Byrnes filly has won two from two and looks very hard to oppose here.

I hope you back a few winners, and C'MON IRELAND

Ted