Aintree-bound JP set for Tralee boost; IRISH VIEW.

Byline: Michael Fortune previews the action as the big names head to Shelbourne 

WHILE JP McManus has his eyes firmly focused on next week's John Smith's Grand National, where Butler's Cabin spearheads his Aintree team, his wife Noreen has other matters very much on her own mind just now.

At Tralee tonight she will have half the field in the valuable Mike Cronin Readymix Juvenile Classic final and would have to be fancied to take the top prize of E25,000.

Mrs McManus actually owns all three in partnership with Declan Moylan, and all are trained in Tarbert by Pat O'Connor. Both Lystoll Oak and Christmas Box qualified directly for the final in last week's semis, but Bellewood Prince had to go through a re-run after dead-heating for second in his semi-final with Droopys Laramie.

That re-run took place before racing on Tuesday and Bellewood Princec really sparkled when winning by three lengths in a stunning 28.22sec, just eight spots off the track record.

Christmas Box is the likely favourite, but a trap six draw is no advantage in a race which has six inside seeds. However, this fellow has won from six, three and four in his unbeaten route to the final and looks the part. On the other hand, Lystoll Oak is drawn in one.

The O'Connor runners apart, Sean Meade's Paradise Miami will have plenty of support. He has a best time of 28.59sec and has the early pace to figure. The other two finalists are Lassa Extreme and Shade Of Satawya.

The final is being shown live as part of an hour-long telecast on Setanta Sports 1 from 9.00. The programme will be repeated at 11.00 on Setanta Ireland and is likely to be shown again tomorrow evening.

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Butler's Cabin: Grand National target