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O’Regan Hopeful of a Big Run from Bewleys Berry
04/04/08

Denis O’Regan, who will have his second mount in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday, is hopeful of a big run in the world's most famous steeplechase.

Bewleys Berry
© racing-images.co.uk

He will get the leg up from trainer Howard Johnson on Bewleys Berry, whom he partnered to finish second in the totesport.com Becher Chase at Aintree in November. That was the second time the gelding had finished runner-up in that contest, while he was a faller at Becher’s Brook on the second circuit in last year’s John Smith’s Grand National.

“He should run a very big race but we’d be hoping that the ground doesn’t dry out too much. He had two good runs in the last two Becher Chases, so he should handle the course no problem. I’ve schooled him at home over Aintree-type fences and he jumped well yesterday morning. He’s in good shape and I’m looking forward to it.

“He has a good racing weight compared to some of them. There’s nothing on 10st who will be going off flat out, so it’ll be a really good, competitive handicap this year. There will be a few front-runners though to set a good pace.

“I haven’t spoken to the boss or the owner yet regarding tactics but we’ll see how we’re going and play it by year. I had my first ride last year and I got buried at the Canal Turn the second time around (on Ballycassidy) but hopefully I’ll get further this year. The main thing is to get around safe and anything after that is a bonus.”

Meanwhile, Tony Dobbin, successful on Lord Gyllene in the 1997 renewal of the John Smith’s Grand National when the race was postponed to the Monday after a bomb alert, is looking forward to riding last year’s favourite, the Pat Hughes-trained Point Barrow, who got no further than the first fence 12 months ago.

“Point Barrow was a good spare ride to pick up this week. I had no ride in this year’s race for a while because our horse got injured and there were a few other spares going but, thank God, I hung tight and got this one,” explained the rider

“Hopefully I’ll get further with him than he did last year! To be fair, he was a deserving favourite, he’s won an Irish Grand National and is decent horse. Back to his best, he’ll have a right squeak hopefully.

“I haven’t walked the National course yet, just the Mildmay Course, but they do an amazing job here. It is the best run course in the whole of England. It’s beautiful ground and there’ll be no excuses for any horse. I love this place, so hopefully I’ll get a winner.

“I haven’t spoke to Pat (Hughes) at all. A friend of mine, Brendan O’Rourke, has horses there and he rang me about it. I’ll be hoping for a good run though.”