IT WAS back in 1995 that the Pat Fahy-trained Nuaffe triumphed in the Virgin Bet Grand National Trial at Haydock Park. While no Irish-trained raider has been successful subsequently in the extended three and a half miles Premier Handicap chase, trainer Gavin Cromwell is hoping to buck that trend with Yeah Man on Saturday (February 17).
The seven-year-old, who will be partnered by Sean Flanagan in Saturday's £100,000 contest which has attracted 11 runners, has yet to win in eight starts over fences but has run some great races in defeat. Last time out he went down by just three-quarters of a length when the staying-on second in the valuable Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot just before Christmas.
County Meath-based Cromwell, who has already saddled nine winners in Britain this season at an enviable strike rate of 42 per cent, said: “I am not certain that the heavy ground is going to be completely to his liking but the trip certainly won’t be a problem.
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“He’s had a couple of good runs at Ascot without winning and deserves a win at this stage. When he fell at the last on his penultimate start, he was rattling home and it’s one of those ones where we’ll never know.
“He definitely stays really well. The early part of the race and staying in the race can be an issue with him but I don’t think it’s going to be an issue on heavy ground at Haydock.
“I have no experience of the fences at Haydock but they should not be a problem.
“The Kim Muir at Cheltenham could be an option in the future but it might come a bit too soon after Saturday. The Irish National could also be an option but we’ll see what happens on Saturday first.”
3:15 pm Virgin Bet Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m 4f 97y
1 Iwilldoit 11 12 0 Diamond Racing Ltd Sam Thomas Dylan Johnston (5)
2 Chambard (FR) 12 11 12 David & Carol Shaw Venetia Williams Miss Lucy Turner (5)
3 Highland Hunter (IRE) ts, p 11 11 10 Nic Brereton and Lindsey Brennan Fergal O'Brien Mr Tom Broughton (7)
4 Iron Bridge (IRE) 8 11 5 Hemmings Racing Jonjo O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
5 Fontaine Collonges (FR) 9 11 5 Mr P. Davies Venetia Williams Shane Quinlan (3)
6 Famous Bridge (IRE) 8 11 4 Hemmings Racing Nicky Richards Sean Quinlan
7 Yeah Man (IRE) p 7 10 12 J.R Brennan & Martin Hannan Gavin Cromwell Ireland Sean Flanagan
8 Full Back (FR) 9 10 12 Mr Ashley Head Gary Moore Caoilin Quinn (3)
9 Credo (IRE) 9 10 11 Potwell Racing Syndicate II Anthony Honeyball Rex Dingle
10 My Silver Lining (IRE) 8 10 6 Mrs Celia Djivanovic Emma Lavelle James Best
11 Snipe (IRE) 7 10 3 Foxtrot Racing Snipe Dan Skelton Tristan Durrell (3)
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