THE Tralee-based Furze Bush Syndicate face an anxious wait this morning to see if their horse Stumptown can creep into the bottom of the weights for BoyleSports Irish Grand National.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained six-year-old is officially rated 140 after an excellent run to finish second in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham last month. However his rating for the National is still 133, which leaves him sixth in the ballot. If he does squeeze into the race it will be a double win for connections as assuming Royale Pagaille is declared, he will be technically 1lb out of the handicap off the minimum weight, but 6lb ‘well in’ on his actual current rating.

“We are very happy with him but it will be very touch and go,” syndicate member Ger Teahon told The Irish Field. “Whatever happens we’ve had an incredible six weeks with him. The whole of Tralee has got behind him and it’s been an incredible experience. We’d been going to Cheltenham for 12 or 13 years. When he got beat it was like losing an All-Ireland Final to a last minute goal but then a few days later, reality sets in and you realise that we didn’t even know we were going to have a horse running at Cheltenham six weeks before.

“We were so proud of him - he is everything you want in a horse, he gives you 100% every time.”

Stumptown began his ascent at Thurles in January before running out a most impressive winner of a three-mile handicap chase at Sandown. His close second to Angels Dawn was another career best and it’s foreseeable that he can improve again. He was a 12/1 shot for the race yesterday evening.

“I think the step up in trip has been a big thing for him and the ground - the better ground has allowed him to jump better,” Teohan explained. “He jumped fine in the soft ground at Cheltenham. Obviously you’d love another week between the races but he’s in great form and we’ll absolutely take our chance if we get in.

“If he doesn’t get into the race, it won’t be the end of the world. He has entries in the Scottish Grand National and at Sandown (Bet365 Gold Cup). We’re just delighted to have him. The syndicate is made up of Brian and Gareth Dillon, their father Gary, George Savage and Nathan McDonnell. I think the main thing is we know how lucky we’ve been.”