Any Second Now wins Grand National prep at Fairyhouse

rte.ie:

Any Second Now edged out Escaria Ten in a thrilling finish to the Tote Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.

Both are leading players for the Randox Grand National at Aintree, with Any Second Now having finished third in the race last year while Escaria Ten was a general 16-1 shot before this race for the world famous marathon.

Any Second Now was conceding 8lb to his rival and it looked as though the extra weight might take its toll as the Gordon Elliott-trained Escaria Ten set sail at the turn for home, with favourite Burrows Saint dropping away very quickly when asked to up his effort.

However, the Ted Walsh-trained Any Second Now kept finding for pressure and Mark Walsh just got his head on front at the line to win by a nose as a 6-1 chance, with 42 lengths back to the disappointing Burrows Saint.

Any Second Now is now the outright favourite for National glory with most firms, with quotes ranging from 10-1 to 12-1.

Any Second Now gets up in the dying strides to deny Escaria Ten in the Grade 3 @thetotecom Bobbyjo Chase, scoring for trainer Ted Walsh and securing a double on the card for the in-form Mark Walsh