Racing: Dream can give McCoy the ideal Irish National debut

That not a single one of the 94 races being run in Britain today will be available for perusal on terrestrial television may be a matter of regret for aficionados if the fact is a meter of the perceived popular appeal of their sport as a ratings-booster on a Bank Holiday Monday. But in truth, the decision to deprive viewers was not a difficult one to make; what is on offer is largely ordinary fare, of little significance in the greater scheme of things and of particular interest only to those with a connection to one of the 875 horses scheduled to run, either as owner, trainer, jockey or punter. And who knows, with meetings available in 14 of England's counties and fine weather forecast, the blank screens may prompt armchair viewers to become actual racegoers.

Some of today's domestic competition will be broadcast via satellite and all will, of course, be there for perusal in betting shops, though with a race being run, on average, every three minutes, those known to be affected by flickering lights should stay at home. Sadly, though, the local bookies will be the only place to see the one contest of the day with pretentions of grandeur, the Irish Grand National. Live racing in Ireland, as significant as that here at the highest level, is currently denied to even satellite subscribers.

This afternoon's 132nd running of the Fairyhouse feature is probably not the best quality edition in history, but few can boast such a soap-operatic script in the build-up. The race marks the return to action of Davids Lad, who had been so well fancied for the real thing at Aintree until the Machiavellian part of his build-up, a quiet run down the field over a distance much too short, fell foul of the authorities.

The stewards judged that the gelding's trainer, Tony Martin, had flouted the schooling-in-public rules and their punishment was a 42-day ban for the horse. Efforts to overturn it in increasingly higher courts proved futile and it was probably no consolation to Davids Lad's connections that the Grand National was won (for the third time in five years) by a compatriot, Monty's Pass, who had warmed up by running last in a two-mile hurdle race.

David's Lad won his country's richest steeplechase two years ago and his top weight in a field of 23 further burdens him with the weight of history. Only three horses have won more than one Irish National, Scots Grey and The Gift twice each in the 19th century and three-time hero Brown Lad, who scored in 1975, 1976 and 1978.

The last animal to carry 12st to victory was Flashing Steel in 1995; before him it was Desert Orchid in 1990. Others successful under a heavy burden read like a Who's Who of Irish racing: Brown Lad twice under 12st 2lb; Flyingbolt (12st7lb), Arkle (12st), Fortria (12st), Royal Approach (12st), Golden View (12st 7lb) and Prince Regent (12st7lb).

The second horse in today's field going for a dual victory is The Bunny Boiler, the winner 12 months ago. He, too, is out for compensation; he did run at Aintree but his hopes ended with a nosedive at the first obstacle. Both he and Davids Lad have taken massive hikes in the ratings; each was out of the handicap when successful.

Rarely, there is no British-trained challenger for the €170,000 (£110,000) purse. But three of the best British-based riders have abandoned the day's mundane jumping fare for their first crack at the prestige prize: Tony McCoy rides Winning Dream, Jim Culloty Timbera and Mick Fitzgerald Ross Moff. Although Winning Dream (3.50) is unproven over the 3m 5f trip, he has his ground and is one of the least exposed of the field. Victory for McCoy, whose Northern Ireland mentor Billy Rock died on Saturday, would be particularly poignant.

One horse running in Britain today who is likely to make an impact at higher levels is Parasol (3.50), who starts the Magnolia Stakes at Kempton at the same time as Davids Lad & co at Fairyhouse but will finish his day's work much more quickly. And at Nottingham well-bred LAUTREC (nap 3.40) can leave his promising juvenile form behind over a longer trip.

At Longchamp Dalakhani maintained his unbeaten record with a cosy win in the Prix Greffuhle and tightened the Aga Khan's grip on the Derby. His John Oxx-trained Alamashar is the new Epsom favourite after support with the major firms. Dalakhani, in Alain de Royer-Dupré's care, heads for Chantilly via the Prix Lupin. In the mile trial, the Prix de Fontainebleau, Aidan O'Brien's Tomahawk was an unlucky fourth to Clodovil, beaten a neck, a nose and a short-head in a typical French sprint finish. He is still on course for the Gallic Guineas.