Plenty of local interest at Aintree

With five Meath jockeys, two former Navan resident riders and a Trim-trained horse taking part in Saturday's Grand National spectacle at Aintree, there was plenty of choice for those who liked to shop local. None of the participants would have been put out to be beaten by AP McCoy who won the Liverpool event for the first time. The team of McCoy, trainer Jonjo O'Neill and owner JP McManus were the heroes of the hour at Aintree as Don't Push It won. Even punters who hadn't backed McCoy were cheering him home. It was a different story for another McManus runner, King John's Castle, with Paul Carberry on board for his uncle, Arthur Moore. Having dislodged his rider before the race began, the starter gave the Ratoath jockey time to remount. However, when the tapes went up, King John's Castle refused to race. Cortown's Roger Loughran took part in his first Aintree national, replacing Paddy Flood on Vic Venturi for Dessie Hughes while Barry Geraghty replaced Ruby Walsh on Big Fella Thanks. Geraghty eventually finished fourth of the 14 finishers, Nina Carberry managed seventh on Character Building, ahead of Kilmessan's Jason Maguire and Cloudy Lane. Denis O'Regan and Black Apalachi ran a great race, finishing second. Loughran got to fence 20, when Vic Venturi was brought down, and the Gordon Elliott-trained Backstage unseated Davy Condon at the same fence. Niall Madden, like O'Regan another Noel Meade protégé departed at the fifth fence. Maguire had earlier enjoyed National day success when his Cheltenham winner, Donald McCain's Peddlers Cross, won the opening race (5/4f) at Aintree. PUNCHESTOWN Gaelscoil Rath To is holding a Punchestown Festival preview night in Ratoath GAA Club on Sunday, 18th April, 8.30. Those scheduled to appear on the panel are Barry Geraghty, Paul Carberry, Ruby Walsh, Davy Russell, Noel Meade and MC Gary O'Brien. Tickets are €10, including a €5 Paddy Power bet. The Meath Hunt and Tara Harriers Point-to-Point takes place on Sunday, 18th April, at Tattersalls, 2.30, with six races on the card. Imperial Commander, winner of this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup, won his point-to-point race at the Ratoath venue in 2005.