Footpad fillip for Aintree after owners change tack with brilliant Arkle hero

The Randox Health Grand National undercard is set to feature the sport's fastest novice chaser after the connections of devastating Racing Post Arkle winner Footpad nominated Aintree as his next calling point.

Having cruised to a 14-length success at Cheltenham, Footpad is likely to bid for more Grade 1 honours over two miles in the Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase, with that contest currently preferred to the 2m4f Manifesto Novices' Chase that opens the meeting.

Footpad would have started a hot favourite for Sunday's Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse, but at the request of owners Simon Munir and Issac Souede he has been rerouted from the home soil assignment, in which trainer Willie Mullins and arch rival Gordon Elliott still boast 13 of the 15 possible runners as they continue their fight to be Ireland's champion trainer.

Watch Footpad's sensational Arkle triumph

Mullins said: "We took him out of the Fairyhouse race because his owners want us to wait and run him at Aintree instead."

Expanding on the decision, Anthony Bromley, racing manger to Munir and Souede, said: "The owners were hoping Sceau Royal would be back for Aintree but Alan King feels it will come too quick.

Willie Mullins now plans to saddle Footpad at AintreeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"We're thinking we might move Terrefort up to three miles at Aintree so we want to seriously consider the other two Grade 1 novice chases there for Footpad. There's also a four-week gap between Cheltenham and Aintree, which is ideal.

"We're not ruling out Punchestown, but it would depend on how Footpad runs at Aintree."

Mullins still has eight possible starters in the Ryanair Gold Cup, including Al Boum Photo and Invitation Only.

Elliott, who leads Mullins by more than €520,000 in the title race, has five options, including JLT Novices' Chase winner Shattered Love and The Storyteller, who took the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate at Cheltenham.

Henry de Bromhead's Petit Mouchoir, third to Footpad in the Arkle, and Noel Meade's Snow Falcon complete the list.

An early Easter means Fairyhouse follows hot on the heels of the festival, but there could still be plenty of Cheltenham stars on show, including Laurina, who is the class act among 14 in contention for the Grade 1 2m4f mares' novice hurdle.

Among the potential rivals to Laurina is Momella from Dan Skelton's yard.

Elsewhere on the card, festival handicap winners Delta Work and Blow By Blow could represent Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud in the Grade 2 novice hurdle. Among eight entries for Mullins are Getabird, a disappointing favourite in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, and Next Destination, who stayed on strongly to finish third in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

The ground at Fairyhouse is currently soft to heavy with a mixture of sunshine and showers forecast for the remainder of the week.

Waiting Patiently: no decision yet made on his Aintree targetCredit: Mark Cranham

Underfoot conditions at Aintree will also be a factor in whether Ascot Chase winner Waiting Patiently, who swerved Cheltenham, returns in either the Betway Bowl or JLT Melling Chase.

"We haven't made a decision yet and I'm pretty laid-back about that," said trainer Ruth Jefferson.

"The horse has had a break and he needed it. He seems to be in good form but he might give up on me, he might not. We don't have to make a decision until nearer the time, so at the moment we're not committed to anything."

Fairyhouse Sunday card

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