'He's made for it' - how Ciaran Murphy got JP McManus to buy big Aintree hope
Trainer Ciaran Murphy rated the chances of his Randox Grand National contender Enjoy D'Allen so highly he recommended JP McManus should purchase him.
With one of jump racing's most famous owners now on board, Murphy's runner is as short as 12-1 to give him a breakthrough success in just his second season, and Murphy has created a custom practice fence to ensure Enjoy D'Allen is spot on for the April 9 contest.
Murphy understands the attributes required in a National horse from his former role at Gigginstown House Stud, where he was involved in pre-training of subsequent winners Tiger Roll and Rule The World.
Randox Grand National racecard and betting
The trainer, based in County Westmeath, sees plenty of the desired qualities in last year's Irish National third and is delighted that Enjoy D'Allen joined an enviable McManus Grand National roster last month, which also features leading fancy Any Second Now and defending champion Minella Times.
Murphy said: "The horse was always for sale. I took the initiative and made the call to Frank [Berry, McManus's racing manager] and once I mentioned it to him he said the horse had been on their radar and that they had an interest in him. We're a small yard with no big marker, so I'm trying to make things happen for ourselves.
"You have to put your neck on the line. It's hard to see into the future but we've always thought this horse was going to be made for Aintree, he's a good stayer and a great jumper who will love the hustle and bustle of a big race.
"I think for a National you need that type of a horse and it's lovely to be able to recommend a horse like that to Mr McManus."
Regular jockey and recent Midlands National-winning rider Conor Orr is likely to retain the ride and his mount should be well prepared for the National fences when he schools over a purpose-built one prepared specifically with Aintree in mind.
The schooling fence is an example of Murphy's former skills in the carpentry trade and his enjoyment of taking a hands-on approach, having also built stables, a walker and a lunge ring at his Charlestown Racing base.
"I'm a carpenter by trade, I built my house six years ago but I don't have time for that now," he said. "It's a lovely skill to have, we've been putting up the facilities here. If you don't have time to do them, at least you know how they should be done.
"This is another challenge but we'll build a nice straightforward fence, nothing too difficult but just so he gets a look at the greenery. If he goes down and jumps that a couple of times and does it well that'd be the height of it."
Grand National (Aintree, Saturday, April 9)
Betfair: 8 Any Second Now, Delta Work, 10 Escaria Ten, 12 Enjoy D'Allen, 14 Snow Leopardess, 16 Fiddlerontheroof, Longhouse Poet, Minella Times, Run Wild Fred, 20 Farclas, Burrows Saint, 25 Mount Ida, Fortescue, Noble Yeats, 33 bar
Read more:
Christian Williams pair head Scottish National market with 19 horses scratched
'We've been aiming him at it all season' - Tony Martin on his big National hope
Which novice chasers remain in contention for the Scottish Grand National?
The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday
Published on 28 March 2022inNews
Last updated 18:27, 28 March 2022
- 'My career has been marked by some great moments of joy' - modern master Olivier Peslier to retire on Thursday
- The latest edition of the Racing Post is available to read online now - here's how you can access it
- How Smart View recorded a 76 per cent profit at the Cheltenham Festival
- Smart View is available on the Racing Post app - how to read the revolutionary new racecard
- Levy reform talks 'accelerating' as clock ticks down to April deadline for agreement
- 'My career has been marked by some great moments of joy' - modern master Olivier Peslier to retire on Thursday
- The latest edition of the Racing Post is available to read online now - here's how you can access it
- How Smart View recorded a 76 per cent profit at the Cheltenham Festival
- Smart View is available on the Racing Post app - how to read the revolutionary new racecard
- Levy reform talks 'accelerating' as clock ticks down to April deadline for agreement