Tony Martin aiming for Irish National success with Good Time Jonny ahead of starting three-month suspension in May
The prospect of Good Time Jonny in the spotlight come 5.15pm on Monday will have various authorities shifting in their seats. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho
Memories of Arkle cementing his status as the best ever 60 years ago tops an evocative National heritage that includes other stellar names such as Flyingbolt and Desert Orchid in 1990 which is synonymous with Easter.Two-time Champion Hurdle-winner Honeysuckle gives birth to first foalIt has proved a double-edged sword this year as an early Easter comes just over a fortnight after Cheltenham and less than two weeks before Aintree.
But a topweight rated 148, and a bottom-weight on 120 getting into a race designed to have a maximum 30 runners suggests a trick has been missed. Mullins big-race dominance has been the season’s recurring theme and a third win in six years might prove relatively underwhelming in story terms for a race that famously threw up the 150-1 Freewheelin Dylan as winner in 2021.
Firstman was a third Martin-trained winner in four years to fail a dope test and after a prolonged period of drug allegations that have bedevilled Irish racing, the prospect of Good Time Jonny in the spotlight come 5.15pm on Monday will have various authorities shifting in their seats.
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