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Grand National horse trains on specially-made fence

Luke Deal & Laura Devlin
BBC News, Suffolk
Luke Deal/BBC Horantzau D'Airy, a chestnut brown racehorse with black mane and wearing a dark blue coat, stands facing the camera, his bridle held by his smiling trainer Michael Keady, his head close to the horse's. Michael is wearing a shiny dark blue padded jacket with Keady in white lettering on the left side of his chest. They are in a grassy area, with hedging behind.Luke Deal/BBC
Horantzau D'Airy has been preparing with Michael Keady for the past month

A racehorse is ready for his debut at the Grand National after practising his jumps on a specially-constructed fence at the home of flat racing.

Horantzau D'Airy, a 100-1 shot, is the first Aintree contender from his yard in Newmarket, Suffolk.

The eight-year-old's very own spruce fence at the Jockey Club's training ground replicates what the runners and riders will encounter at the famous steeplechase on Saturday.

"He jumped it like a bunny - there's no reason why he shouldn't get round the Grand National course," said trainer Micheal Keady.

"It's slightly novel for a Grand National contender to even be here.

"We are traditionally a flat-focussed yard, and here we are preparing a horse for the Grand National - it's very exciting."

Michael Keady A national horse-racing fence, head-on, with Michael Keady looking towards the camera from behind the fence, with only his head visible above a mound of spruce branches. Midway up the mound, a white pole stretches between white supports at either end.Michael Keady
The fence has given Horantzau D'Airy a sense of what to expect at Aintree

The thoroughbred was already used to chase fences, having been runner-up at the Kerry and Munster Nationals under his former trainer Willie Mullins.

But the Grand National's fences are taller and wider, with jockey Ciaran Gethings putting the horse through his paces on the special jump last week.

"He's been an absolute dream to train for the race, he's been very straightforward, a very sound horse and he seems to really enjoy his work," added Mr Keady.

The racehorse's inaugural Grand National is also the debut for Mr Keady.

Luke Deal/BBC Side view of Horantzau D'Airy, a chestnut coloured racehorse, with his bridle held by a man wearing a blue top, black trousers and a riding helmet, while a woman with blonde hair and the same clothing leans over and inspects the horse's left hind leg. All are standing on grass, with brick buildings behind.Luke Deal/BBC
Having a horse in the Grand National had lifted everyone's spirits, Mr Keady said

"I started my training career a couple of years ago in Newmarket. I grew up 12 miles away in Cambridge, so it's a dream to be training horses here, let alone a Grand National horse," continued Mr Keady.

Realistically, he added, simply completing the tough course of just over four miles (6.5km) and 30 fences would be a "massive achievement" - but there was always that chance.

"If he's in contention half way, you never know, it's the Grand National after all and anything can happen," he said.

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