ANY SECOND NOW is likely to have his first run over fences since finishing third in the Grand National in Sunday’s BetVictor Chase at Naas.
Ted Walsh has no qualms about the 10-year-old reverting to two miles, especially having won the race two years ago.
A Cheltenham Festival winner in 2019 in the Kim Muir, Any Second Now was beaten eight lengths by Minella Times at Aintree despite being almost brought to a standstill at the 12th fence.
“He has a couple of options but the intention at the moment is to go to Naas. It’s a tidy race but so much about going suits us,” said Walsh.
“It’s next door to me, so it takes very little out of them. It only takes 10 minutes to get in and then when the race is over and the horse is cooled down, he’s back in his own stable in 10 minutes again. It has plenty of plusses for us.
“They always do a good job of the ground so we’ve no worries about that either, unless it was quick and it won’t be that!”
Regarding his weight in the Grand National this year of 11st 2lb, which sees him currently sit 10th on the list, Walsh said: “I don’t worry about it, there’s nothing you can do about it.
“You have to get there. And then you have to have a clear run. With the interference he got last year, it would have made no difference if he had 7lb less – he still wouldn’t have won.
“I don’t get caught up in the weight. You want a bit of luck. A few pounds here or there doesn’t bother me.”
Also among the entries for the Grade Three Chase are Gordon Elliott’s Andy Dufresne, Henry de Bromhead’s Captain Guinness and Notebook and Willie Mullins’ Royal Rendezvous and Cilaos Emery.
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Are we going to get an article on everyone that won’t be captain?
@John Doe: no I’d say…
I think the captaincy, along with the squad will be reasonably settled and pragmatic.
Porter
Healy
Loughman
Sheehan
Kelleher
Herring
Furlong
Bealham
O’Toole
Ryan
Beirne
McCarthy
Henderson
O’Mahony (Captain)
Baird
VdF
Hodnett
Doris
Conan
Prendergast
Gibson-Parke
Casey
Murray
Crowley
Frawley
Harry Byrne
Aki
Henshaw
McCloskey
Ringrose (Vice Captain)
Frisch
Lowe
Stockdale
Nash
Larmour
Keenan
Zebo
APPRENTICES
Jack Boyle
Tom Clarkson
Thomas Ahearn
Nathan Doak
Sam Prendergast
@Paul Ennis: Serious looking squad to be fair and the right balance of captain / vice captain, with Ringrose perhaps taking the reins a couple of years out from the next world cup. I’ve been really impressed with Dooley since he’s gone to Connaught. Might be an option to blood a new loose head relatively risk free. I think Jager gets a go ahead of O’Toole when recovered from his head injury. Still plenty of other options across the squad, which is a great place to be.
@Paul Ennis: Herring most likely out due to injury so probable Stewart in stead
@TL55: Didn’t hear that. Doesn’t weaken the squad though.
Class act. I’d prefer if he didn’t captain Ireland yet. And just concentrate on his other stuff.
Has he captained Leinster?
@Colm O’ Brien: once. Slow News morning.
I’m paying a subscription and can only access the free articles. Took money on me this morning. Anyone else having this problem..
@Ed: No… but I had to keep logging in every time until I changed my phone and no issues since. You might need to try a new browser or clearing history and caches.
@Ed: it remembers me in the app only.