Willie Mullins confirmed last night that Footpad is likely to head for Aintree after being taken out out of the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse. He is set to have the option of running in either the two-and-a-half-mile Manifesto Novices’ Chase on April 12 or the Maghull Novices’ Chase over two miles on Grand National day on April 14. Shattered Love won the JLT Novices’ Chase at Prestbury Park, while The Storyteller landed the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate. Getabird could bid to bounce back from a disappointing run when favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, while Mullins has also entered Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle third Next Destination, among several others. Elliott is also well represented, with his entry including Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle victor Blow By Blow.

Source: Irish Examiner March 27, 2018 23:03 UTC