Eric McNamara on the Munster National: 'I wouldn't swap my two' Eric McNamara is hoping to replicate last year's Munster National success, which he took with Real Steel. Niall Tierney caught up with him to get the latest on this year's contenders. French Dynamite He’s in good form. He came out of the Kerry National very well. I feel that he ran too keenly on the day. We were happy that we had the horse very fit on the day of the Kerry National, but I think on the day he ran, he was too keen. He was never going to get home. We’re hoping to ride him with a little bit more restraint on Sunday, and if he switches off and relaxes, it should make him very competitive, and we are hopeful for a big run. Danny Mullins was to ride (Weveallbeencaught), but unfortunately, Willie Mullins has claimed him now. So we’ve changed tack and we’re going to claim a few pounds off French Dynamite with Patrick O’Brien. Weveallbeencaught We were unlucky that there were three fences taken out of that race due to the low-lying sun in Listowel, but it all works well now that he ended up not having a hard race. He stayed on really well. He’s used to the rough and tumble of these competitive handicaps, and I think he should improve a small bit from Listowel to Sunday, and that should make him very competitive. Even though I’m a little bit disappointed that Danny Mullins can’t ride him, we have a very able deputy in Sean Flanagan. I think the two horses running on Sunday fit the profile of the race very well. I suppose they’re open to a young, up-and-coming novice that might be well-handicapped, obviously. But with regards to the three-mile stayers or others in the race, the exposed horses - I wouldn’t swap my two for them. Recap on the Listowel Festival and how the yard is They’re in great shape. We’re happy that they all seem to be healthy. The blood tests seem to be coming back very good. They seem to be scoping very well, and we seem to be getting a clear run with everything. We hit the crossbar with quite a few - with a lot of seconds, thirds, and fourths in Listowel - but a lot of them were having their first run of the season. Every one of them ran well.
