The judge can't split Allure Of Illusion (near side) and King Vuvuzela
Eider raid on cards for trial winner Portrait King
ATHY trainer Maurice Phelan has lofty ambitions for stable star Portrait King after the seven-year-old shed his maiden tag with a convincing success in the Dobbins & Madigans National Trial on Sunday.
Portrait King travelled well under Davy Condon and Phelan plans to send him to Britain after a three-and-a-quarter-length victory over Up The Beat.
"He really wants four miles and he'll go across to Newcastle for the Eider Chase if he gets in," he said. "He was an unlucky loser to Smoking Aces at Fairyhouse last time, so he deserved that.
"He loves testing conditions and over four miles he won't stop, so the Newcastle race should be ideal for him."
He remains a novice, which leaves even more options open for the winner who is owned by the trainer's neighbour Joan Smithers.
Favourite shares spoils
Much was expected of the Paul Nolan-trained King Vuvuzela after a taking bumper success at last year's festival, and after a couple of disappointing efforts over hurdles got it right on Sunday as he forced a dead-heat in the opening maiden hurdle with 1-5 favourite Allure Of Illusion.
"I was beat," said the latter's rider Ruby Walsh. It didn't quite prove the case as half the pot was retrieved with Robert Power just failing to get up.
"He made very hard work of it," said a disappointed Willie Mullins. "He just raced very free and probably needed the experience."
For Nolan, though, there was some vindication. He said: "He's been disappointing, but he wasn't right after a bout of ringworm. He's right back to form now and should come on nicely.
"Hopefully he'll improve on better ground and will fulfil the potential he has in some of the nice novice hurdles in the spring."
Scotsirish grinds it out
Making hard work of it was also how Mullins described the effort of Scotsirish when winning the 3m banks race.
Despite the somewhat laboured manner of his two-length victory over the seemingly ageless Garde Champetre, bookmaker reaction was to shorten him for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham.
He's now 5-2 favourite (from 3) with both Stan James and Boylesports, while both firms also shortened Garde Champetre to 8-1.
"I suppose the ground was very heavy," said Mullins. "I thought his jumping over the banks was very slick though and it's getting better all the time. I imagine both him and Uncle Junior will go for the Cheltenham race."
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