Willie Mullins looks set to rely on Alexander Banquet in the Martell Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week. The handler is unlikely to confirm stable mate Florida Pearl at Monday's five-day stage for the marathon £500,000 showpiece.
"At the moment it looks like Alexander Banquet will be and I'll probably go for one of the other chases at Aintree with Florida Pearl," Mullins said. Both horses went to the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup with high hopes on their last start, but both ran slightly below par. Mullins added: "They have been in so-so form since Cheltenham, I haven't done much with them since.
Jockey plans for the pair are undecided but Mullins is hoping Barry Geraghty will be successful in his appeal against a 12-day suspension he picked up for his riding of Magnus at the Cheltenham Festival. Adrian Maguire had partnered Florida Pearl on his two starts prior to his Festival defeat but was ruled out of the ride in the Gold Cup through injury, with Conor O'Dwyer getting the leg up on the 10-year-old.
"I'm hoping Barry Geraghty will be available to ride Alexander Banquet, I'll wait on the outcome of that (his appeal), and I'll have to search around for a jockey for Florida Pearl," said the trainer. Alexander Banquet is a best-priced 16-1 for the National.
Filed by Laura Reynolds
