One of owner Graham Wylie's two leading hopes for this year's John Smith's Grand National will be running in aid of the Children's Heart Unit Fund.
Wylie has deep personal ties with the charity as one of his twin daughters, Kiera, has undergone three live-saving operations at the Children's Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle since being born in December 2009. The owner is set to be represented by ante-post Grand National favourite Prince De Beauchene, as well as major contender On His Own, in this year's renewal of the world's most famous steeplechase.
Both horses are trained by Willie Mullins, and will still carry Wylie's black and beige silks, but one will be bidding to pick up some prize-money for the Children's Heart Unit Fund.
"One of the horses will be leased to a good friend of mine called Semore Kurdi for the day and will run in aid of the Children's Heart Unit Fund," said Wylie.
"The people at the Children's Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle have performed three operations on my daughter Kiera. She had to have open heart surgery soon after she was born and has had two operations since, but hopefully she will never have to have another heart operation again."
It is now up to Kurdi whether the charity will be represented by Prince De Beauchene, a runaway winner of the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last weekend, or Thyestes Chase scorer On His Own.
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