Racing: Zeta's Lad follows Fairyhouse trail

JOHN UPSON has decided to saddle Zeta's Lad in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday, despite receiving death threats this week.

The Adstone trainer, who has admitted he did not articulate himself properly in television interviews after the Grand National, leading some to take offence over his comments about Ireland, hopes tempers have cooled.

'I have been inundated with dozens of letters of support from Ireland,'

Upson said yesterday. 'I will be going. If anyone seriously meant to harm me then they will find me wherever I am.'

Zeta's Lad, who was pulled up after completing a circuit of the Grand National, will be one of five competitors on Monday to emerge from the wreckage of Aintree.

The gelding will be 6lb worse off with Royal Athlete, who fell at the 10th, while others to turn out will be The Gooser, a faller at the 21st, plus The Committee and Laura's Beau, fourth and seventh in the race that never was.

Upson believes the Liverpool run did not take too much out of Zeta's Lad. 'Robbie (Supple, the horse's jockey) said he was a bit slow to start with and took a very good look at a few fences,' the trainer said. 'But he flew Becher's and once he jumped the Chair he was in a good position.'

Other British challengers to travel to Fairyhouse include Rushing Wild, the Gold Cup runner-up who will again be ridden by Richard Dunwoody, Sibton Abbey and Cool Ground.