Racing: Perth retrieval mission for Ballycassidy

Grand National hero Numbersixvalverde enjoyed what will be the first of many days off yesterday, turned out to stretch and rest his fleet and agile limbs in a paddock at trainer Martin Brassil's Dunmurray stables in Co Kildare. He arrived home late on Sunday night and Brassil reports Ireland's latest star in splendid, self-assured fettle. "He's great," he said, "everything is absolutely A1."

The 10-year-old may parade at his local point-to-point at the weekend, but there are no plans to go on the supermarket-opening circuit. "The important thing now is that he's not bothered too much," Brassil said. "He'll be turned out and be given a good rest."

Ballycassidy, who led the National field such a bold dance before crashing at Valentine's, six from home, is likely to be out again later this month in Scotland, though not in the usual consolation prize, the Caledonian version of the marathon at Ayr.

The 10-year-old was reported to be not seriously worse for wear after his spectacular nose-dive. "He's OK," said trainer Peter Bowen's wife, Karen, yesterday. "He's a little stiff on his neck, but getting better. He ran fantastic, it would be interesting to see what we would have done if he'd stood up. He was quite well handicapped and he is a good horse and it was just whether he took to the fences, which he did." A three-mile handicap chase at Perth on 27 April is Ballycassidy's target.

Celestial Gold, though, is unlikely to run again this season after his fine win in the Betfair Bowl Chase on Thurday at Aintree. The Martin Pipe-trained eight-year-old bounced back to form when beating another Bowen inmate, Take The Stand, by seven lengths after failing to get round in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on his belated seasonal debut.

"He was brilliant, he travelled and jumped really well. Timmy [Murphy] was always having to take a pull," said trainer Martin Pipe, another with what-might-have-been on his mind. "He won nicely and who knows what would've happened if he had not unseated in the Gold Cup. But those were his two targets and so that will probably be it for the season."

Al Eile is unlikely to run at the Punchestown Festival two weeks hence after being found to have aggravated an old shoulder injury following his disappointing run at Aintree. The John Queally-trained gelding never looked like repeating last year's victory in the Aintree Hurdle and trailed in sixth of the seven finishers behind Asian Maze on Saturday. "He's a little bit stiff in one of his shoulders," said Queally. "He seems to have tweaked something; he had a shoulder problem as a younger horse and there has been a small recurrence of it. He usually jumps well and he didn't on Saturday and it was probably niggling him."

The first Classics are barely a month away now and the horse for money yesterday was one of Aidan O'Brien's 1,000 Guineas candidates, Race For The Stars.

The Ballydoyle stable already houses the favourite Rumplestiltskin but her stablemate, a half-sister to 2,000 Guineas runner-up Hawk Wing, was backed from 16-1 to 11-1 to avenge family honour on the Rowley Mile.

One of the leading contenders from the home side for the mile Newmarket showpiece four weeks on Sunday, Flashy Wings, may have a prep run at Newbury in 12 days time. "Everything has gone really well," said Mick Channon, the filly's trainer. "We might go to Newbury but we will wait and see. She worked really well last week and we will see how she progresses." Flashy Wings ended her first season beaten two necks in the Cheveley Park Stakes.

Brian Meehan intends to send Donna Blini, winner of the six-furlong Group 1 contest, straight to the Classic, her first venture over a mile. "She is in very good form and is working nicely," he said. "She did a nice piece last week and I was pleased with her. She has never been an extravagant filly but her weight is good and she looks well and I couldn't be happier with her."

Chris McGrath

Nap: Exmoor (Folkestone 3.20)

NB: Onward To Glory

(Fontwell 4.00)