The Irish Grand National takes place in Fairyhouse racecourse on Easter Monday.
Thirty horses will toe the line in what is Ireland’s top handicap chase. There is an added incentive to the race this year with the prize money up €100,000 on last year’s edition to a whopping €500,000.
Organisers hoped this development might “bring back the class horses” to a race that has struggled to attract Ireland’s finest handicap chasers in recent years.
The late withdrawals of Outlander and Carlingford Lough respectively will therefore be a slight source of disappointment, but the race is still laced with class and it promises to be a bumper renewal of the Irish National Hunt calendar’s showpiece event.
Barry Geraghty was victorious in 2014 aboard Shutthefrontdoor, who will be aiming to regain his crown this year.
After closely studying the form, here are my five choices that can make your Easter Monday that bit more profitable.
1 Fletchers Flyer – Trainer Harry Fry has had his sights set on this event ever since this horse emerged victorious from a 3 mile 6 furlong handicap chase in Punchestown this time last year.
“This has been the plan since he crossed the line at Punchestown in April,” the Dorset-based trainer said. Fletchers Flyer proved his staying credentials that day and has been primed for this outing ever since. “It’s all been about getting him to Easter Monday.” These are extremely positive noises from Fry and at a featherweight of 10st 5lb and the ever young Noel Fehily aboard, at 10-1, he is definitely worth a punt.
2 Tiger Roll – One of Trainer Gordon Elliot’s 11 horses in the top 30 in the weights, this two-time Cheltenham festival winner has class in abundance. The sky appeared to be the limit for this Gigginstown-owned horse after his triumph hurdle victory in 2014 but disappointment followed. The seven-year-old had shown signs of a return to form this season with some positive outings before landing the spoils at the four-mile Novices chase during the Cheltenham festival to announce his return to form. Give him a chance at 20-1.
3 Our Duke – The story of the week. This horse has been attracting a wave of support in the early betting markets and has seen his price dwindle from 8-1 at the start of the week to 11-2 currently. This type of market move cannot be ignored especially considering the red hot form of the Jessica Harrington-Robbie Power combination of late. The pair had a festival to remember landing the Gold Cup, the Coral Cup and Grand Annual with Sizing John, Supasundae and Rock The World respectively. This horse didn’t take part in the Cotswolds, with connections instead saving him with this race in mind. The pair also cleaned up at Aintree last week with four victorys and will be hopeful that this seven-year-old can supplement this success.
Our Duke has good form of his own this season, highlighted by a Grade 1 success at Navan. In this race he displayed admirable resilience as he refused to be beaten despite his jumping leaving a lot to be desired. The only thing to watch out for is the going: “The only thing that would stop us is if the ground got too quick,” as Harrington said last week. This one cannot be ignored.
4 Road To Respect – This Noel Meade-trained six-year-old is so attractive because of his extremely light weight of 10st 3lb. This horse coasted to victory during the Cotswolds and if he can stay the longer distance here he has a huge chance. Bryan Cooper is expected to partner this one and he is certainly in with a shout at 16-1.
5 Ucello Conti – A horse that I’m convinced would have had a say in the Aintree Grand National had he not unseated rider Daryl Jacob. The frustrating thing in that race was how well he had been jumping up to that point. He has had some good form this year finishing just behind the classy Champagne West in the competitive Thyestes Handicap Chase in Gowran Park. He should have no problems staying the distance in this one and can make up for his Aintree misfortune here. The odds seem to be generous at 16-1.
So sit back and enjoy the thrills, spills and hopefully glory. Best of luck.
