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Black Apalachi Begins Preparation For Grand National 2010 At Leopardstown This Weekend
Tuesday 19 January 2010 at 18:18
 Leading Grand National hope Black Apalachi starts his 09/10 season this weekend at Leopardstown with an outing over hurdles.
Hughes Using Pertemps Hurdle For Apalachi Comeback
Leopardstown stages a big two-day meeting this weekend and part of the card will be a qualifier for the Pertemps Hurdle at Cheltenham. The race is always worth watching for clues for the Festival but this year it will be further enhanced with the possible presence of Dessie Hughes’ star steeplechaser, Black Apalachi.
Hughes was quoted this week as saying :
"He's very well and I'm very happy with him and the plan is to run him in the Pertemps Qualifier at Leopardstown and then he'll go on to Fairyhouse for the Bobbyjo Chase [February 20]."
Black Still Well Handicapped
Dessie Hughes’ plans for Black Apalachi indicate that he must still believe his charge to be decently handicapped as he seems reluctant to take a risk with his mark over fences until after the publication of the weights for the 2010 Grand National on the 16th February.
Third Time Lucky
Connections of the eleven year-old son of Old Vic will be praying for better luck than they have had in 2008 and 2009 when the horse failed to complete the National course on both occasions.
In 2009 Black Apalachi led until Bechers second time around when, still going well, he unseated rider, Denis O’Regan. It is hard to forecast what would have happened had he stayed on his feet but given a clear round in 2010 he will prove hard to beat.
Why not check out our Grand National Odds to see if any of the other horses running at Leopardstown over the weekend are in the Grand National Ante-Post betting.
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