Shock Irish Grand National-winning stablemates set for Listowel showdown

The stablemates who caused massive shocks in the last two Irish Grand Nationals are set to take each other on in next week's Guinness Kerry National (4.20 Wednesday) after trainer Dermot McLoughlin confirmed both Lord Lariat and Freewheelin Dylan are on course for a crack at the €200,000 event.

Freewheelin Dylan won Ireland's richest jumps race in 2021 at 150-1, while Lord Lariat landed the Easter Monday marathon in April at 40-1 and both are being prepared for the highlight of the seven-day Harvest Festival at Listowel on Wednesday.

Indeed, McLoughlin is convinced Lord Lariat will be an even better horse this season with the Grand National at Aintree his long-term objective.

McLoughlin said: "The plan is for both Lord Lariat and Freewheelin Dylan to run at Listowel, they both seem to be in great form.

"One ideally wants good ground and the other wants plenty of cut but I would imagine the ground will be somewhere in the middle. It won't be like concrete or a bog so it will be fine for both of them. They both have nice weights and I'm looking forward to getting them back out and seeing how they get on."

Freewheelin Dylan was a stunning 150-1 winner of the Irish Grand National last yearCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

According to the market, Lord Lariat has the best chance of the pair. He has opened up at 12-1 with Paddy Power and McLoughlin does not think he will be a one-hit wonder.

He said: "Lord Lariat is definitely a lot stronger since he's come back in. He's a big, raw horse but he's strengthened up a lot over the summer and I have no doubt he has more to offer this season. I've been delighted with him over the last few weeks and the plan all along has been to end up at Aintree. That's where the owners want to go so all roads are leading there.

"Paddy [O'Hanlon] will ride Lord Lariat again and hopefully Ricky [Doyle] will ride Freewheelin Dylan. I think they will both run well."

There are 36 entered in the Kerry National and Hewick has been handed topweight.

The Galway Plate winner, who also won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April, goes in search of another major prize but will have to defy a mark of 163 in order to do so. He will carry 10lb more than anything else in the race and it would be his finest feat yet if he were to plunder the prize.

Joseph O'Brien ticked the Kerry National off his list last year when Assemble won and he has seven possibles for the race this time, including 2020 Galway Plate winner Early Doors, this year’s Galway Plate runner-up Darasso, Busselton and Fire Attack.

Willie Mullins, who won the race with Cabaret Queen in 2020, has made four entries and Galway Plate third El Barra has been installed as Paddy Power's 11-2 joint-favourite along with Hewick. Rock Road, Bacardys and Recite A Prayer complete his potential challenge.

Gordon Elliott could have four runners – Kilbeggan Midlands National winner Hurricane Georgie, Tullybeg, Hermann Clermont and Glenloe.

Guinness Kerry National (September 21, Listowel)

Paddy Power: 11-2 El Barra, Hewick, 7 Rock Road, 9 Busselton, 10 Hurricane Georgie, 11 Cape Gentleman, Donkey Years, 12 Lord Lariat, Darasso, Fire Attack, 14 bar

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