Gary O'Brien - Grand National ante-post

Irish-trained horses have enjoyed some wonderful success in the Grand National in recent years and BALLYHOLLAND can notch up another memorable victory for the emerald isle in the 2010 renewal of the world’s greatest steeplechase.

Colin McBratney’s nine year-old enjoyed his finest hour to date when landing last year’s Galway Plate in devastating fashion, form that received a recent boost when fourth-placed Anothercoppercoast captured the prestigious Leopardstown Chase. The 2m6f trip of the midsummer Ballybrit showpiece is the furthest the son of Tiraaz has won over to date, but he certainly wasn’t stopping at the finish on that occasion and was also successful in two point-to-points in his younger days, providing grounds for optimism over his prospects of seeing out the 4m4f at Aintree. A record of no falls from thirteen chase starts under rules also suggests that the formidable fences should hold no fears.

Given a lengthy break following his Galway heroics, Ballyholland made a very pleasing return to action last month at Naas. Taking the by now tried and tested route of an outing over hurdles prior to the announcement of the National weights, he produced an excellent late burst to collar the very useful Mr Cracker close home in a valuable novice event which was run on unsuitably heavy ground.

There is little doubt in my mind that he would be considerably shorter than his current odds were he with a higher-profile trainer, but McBratney has proved on several occasions in recent years that he is more than capable of producing the goods and his stable-star is nicely berthed on 11-0. He looks well worth an early interest.