Beautiful Sound: favourite since Irish National weights were released
PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)Hope fading for National leader Beautiful Sound
THE CHANCES of ante-post favourite Beautiful Sound running in Monday's Ladbrokes Irish Grand National remained slim on Monday morning with the market leader, who is second reserve, needing two withdrawals before 1.35pm to make the line-up.
Beautiful Sound has been favourite for the race since betting opened when the weights were announced at the beginning of the month - and was 5-1 (from 9-2) with the sponsors on the morning of the National.
His trainer, Gordon Elliott, who also has Backstage among the definite runners in the race, admitted that hope was slipping away.
He said on Sunday: "It looks unlikely now, but I am going to go home and ring everybody and see what happens."
The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Sunnyhillboy was the main market mover on Monday morning. His price contracted to 11-1 (from 14) with William Hill and Paddy Power.
Adrian Heskin will miss the ride on 40-1 shot A New Story in the Irish National after fracturing his right collarbone in a fall from Huntmaster in Sunday's beginners' chase.
Read more in Monday's Racing Post - download the digital newspaper from 3am or buy the PDF newspaper from 9am
