3 minute read
The Grand National has always been the aim for Ciaran Murphy and Enjoy D'Allen and after a summer of rest for the gelding there are high hopes in the yard.
Firstly though the eight-year-old will have to come though Christmas unscathed with entries in the Welsh National and the Paddy Power at Leopardstown .
Both races take place on December 27 and Murphy has yet to decided whether to travel to Chepstow or stay at home.
The son of Network has won just two of his 24 races under Rules, but has been placed on another nine occasions, including in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown last December.
The eight-year-old was also third in the Irish Grand National in 2021, and was purchased by JP McManus last March with the aim of winning the Aintree equivalent.
However, things did not go according to plan,. He unseated C J Orr at the first fence on his first outing outside of Ireland in the Grand National last year.
He was then was a modest ninth to Lord Lariat in the Irish National on his return to Fairyhouse after making a couple of bad mistakes.
Ciaran Murphy said: "Maybe Christmas and the Paddy Power will be the plan. He's in the Welsh National, but I'm not sure.
"I haven't spoken to JP about it. But we will see as we get nearer to Christmas.
"We will just see with weather and bits and pieces.
"You never know what the ground will be like in the Welsh National and you don't want to leave a race there, either. We'll do the right thing come Christmas, anyway."
Enjoy D'Allen has run twice this term, both over two and three-quarter miles in minor handicaps at Navan and, on both occasions, he finished well down the field.
However, Murphy has not lost faith in him and still sees him as tailor-made for the Grand National.
He added: "Obviously, the National didn't work out and the Irish National didn't work out, and we didn't get the bounce of the ball.
"But he's had the summer off and he's in good order, and he has had a couple of quiet runs to get him started. We'll look forward to Christmas now.
"He's a proper staying chaser. The plan has been the National and we will try and get him there in one piece. That will be the main aim."