Dessie Hughes is one of Ireland’s most established and skilled trainers, who has had consistent success with numerous horses over the years, most notably with Hardy Eustace. A successful jockey in his own right, he won the 1977 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Davy Lad and he also beat Sea Pigeon, riding Monksfield in his most famous victory in the Champion Hurdle.

In 1980 he took out his own training licence and had early success with Light The Wad who won the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown in 1982 and the 1981 and 1982 renewals of the Drogheda Chase at Punchestown. And in 1982 had a coveted Cheltenham victory with Miller Hill in the Supreme Novice Hurdle.

In 2001 Hughes bought Hardy Eustace for IR£21,000 and Central House for IR£28,000, who went on to win a total of twenty-five races between them, including nine Grade Ones. Hardy Eustace in particular proved to be a consistent hurdler who was particularly forthcoming at Cheltenham and has already earned over €1million in his career.

Hughes bought Schindlers Hunt at the same place as Hardly Eustace and Central House for €28,000, and he has already won the Grade One Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Lepordstown and the Baileys Irish Arkle just one month later. He went on to win the 2008 renewal of the Dan Moore Handicap Chase and the the 2009 Leopardstown Handicap Chase before going on to be Grade One placed at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown.

Dessie Hughes also trains Black Apalachi who has recently stunned his trainer by becoming one of the Grand National favourites following a superb victory in the Becher Chase last November. Hughes was surprised as the horse had started off well in his career but had taken a bit of a downturn. He is now well back on track, so it may prove to be third time lucky for the gelding.

Hughes also has another Grand National 2010 hopeful in Vic Venturi who, after stealing the show at the Beechers Chase in November 2009, and at just nine years of age, is in his prime for this kind of race. Again, he was not on top form for the past couple of years but the latter half of 2009 has shown his true potential with two wins and a second from three starts.

Overall Hughes’ chances of success at two of the biggest meetings in the racing calender are looking promising! To have a bet on either of these horses winning the 2010 Grand National go to Paddy Power Bookmakers!

Things are really hotting up for 2010 Grand National, now the Cheltenham Festival is over all eye’s turn to Aintree for this years big race on April 10th. And luckily for us things are really moving along with all entries and weights now declared for the race.

Generally the final line-up of 40 horses are based on the weights from the heaviest down so horses that have weighted particularly low are very unlikely to run on the day. The odds below are currently the best prices you can find for that horse with major UK Bookmakers.

There’s going to be a string of new young guns trying for the much coveted title on April 10th but don’t dismiss the old faithfuls who are still capable of causing a major upset – Comply or Die anyone??

Odds are change all the time but they have been pretty consistent with who they think is really in contention but anything can happen between now and Saturday April 10th so make sure you don’t take too many ante-post risks!

A Standard Example Of Ante Post Rules: All racing ante-post bets are accepted and settled on a Rules of Racing basis only. Ante-post bets are accepted at quoted prices, up to and including the day prior to the event, on the basis of all in, run or not, entered or not . Therefore selections not taking part in the race/event concerned are losers. Ante-post bets are those placed at our quoted prices on horses and prior to the race becoming classed as ‘Day of Event’ (Day of event is a term used to describe the time at which overnight declarations are made, usually 10am on the day preceding the race (or two days for certain Group 1 races) for horse racing and the day of the race for greyhounds). All bets placed after the overnight declaration stage are settled in accordance with our Early Prices/Day of Race Rules.

Please check before you bet ante post with your bookmaker regarding the ‘rules & clauses’ all bookmakers are different.