Call It Magic

It was a shame that Call It Magic made a mistake at the Canal Turn in the Topham at Aintree a couple of weeks ago.

He was a bit slow over the first two but he then got his act together and he was jumping very well. He was very good over Bechers.

He just took his eye off the fence when he got to the Canal Turn and landed a bit steep, getting rid of Mark Enright.

It was just one of those things.

He then followed the other loose horses and when he got to the line he went off down the back and jumped five more fences! He absolutely loves those National fences.

He’s been very well since, the trip to Aintree didn’t take a huge amount out of him and he has a few options this weekend, one of which is the Betway Chase at Cork on Easter Sunday.

We’re not sure where he will go yet, we need to try to place him in the right race. He’s in the Irish Grand National on Monday and if it looks like he’s going to get in we’ll probably go for that.

The race at Cork could be a very good race. There’s some decent prize money and some very good horses entered like Jury Duty, Snow Falcon and Bachasson.

Acapella Bourgeois was very good in Clonmel the last day and Westerner Point is a very consistent horse who has won his last two. There’s plenty of depth to the race, it looks tasty enough.

A number of them are also in the National so we’ll have to see how both races are shaping up later in the week.

We took Baie Des Iles out of the National and we’ll probably wait for France with her now.

Runners next week

Little Princess is entered in a beginners chase at Cork on Sunday but that looks a hot enough race for the grade with the likes of Arctic Fire and Beyond The Law in there, so we’ll go to Kilbeggan the following Sunday.

An Fraoch Mor could run in the novice handicap hurdle on Thursday at Fairyhouse over three miles. The trip will suit him, although we would definitely prefer some rain.

He will have come on a good bit for his win at Wexford the last day.

Irish Grand National

Ted Walsh is very happy with Any Second Now 7/1, who ran such a great race to win the Kim Muir last month.

His form is rock solid, he had been running in Graded races and dropped back to a handicap at Cheltenham.

If you look at his novice form from last season, he was second behind really good horses like Footpad, Monalee and Invitation Only. Ted couldn’t be happier with him, but I’m sure he’ll be hoping for some rain.

He won the Irish National with Commanche Court back in 2000 and he’s hit the crossbar a couple of times as well. It would be lovely for everyone if he could win it again.

Another who I think can go well is Snugsborough Benny 14/1, who was impressive when he beat Call It Magic in February.

I think Liam Cusack has been planning this race for a good while. He will have a nice weight and he’s a progressive nine-year-old who will enjoy the decent ground.

I’d be delighted for Liam if he was to win it, he’s done very well with this horse. He’s a quietly spoken man but a very shrewd operator.

He has a small team and rode with plenty of success as a jockey.