We are poised for an exciting Irish Grand National on Easter Monday.
The second of the four UK nationals is the Irish Grand National which traditionally takes place on Easter Monday. Runners have 24 fences to jump as well as three miles and five furlongs of distance to cover in a gruelling handicap.
Last year, a recent JP McManus purchase reimbursed his fee to give Willie Mullins a second win in the race. This year, he has the ante-post favourite Nick Rockett in chase of a third.
The race is on the culminating day of Fairyhouse’s three-day Easter festival and, with over €500,000 on offer, it is the richest race in the Irish National Hunt season.
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Irish Grand National Runners & Odds
Nick Rockett - 4/1
After the Cheltenham we have had it makes sense for a Willie Mullins horse to be the ante post favourite - after all, he seems to win everything.
However, Nick Rockett’s chances are more than the location of his horse box. A dual course winner himself, he started the season at Fairyhouse in a novice chase that is working out very well.
The winner, Corbett’s Cross, won the National Hunt Chase with ease whilst the 3rd placed Monty’s Star was an admirable 2nd in the Brown Advisory behind facile winner Fact to File.
Returned to Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day he duly got off the mark over fences before only finding American Mike too good last time out in the Grade 2 Ten Up Novices’ Chase. That was his first start at 3 miles and he seemed to get the trip well but it is worrying he hasn’t won over the distance.
Indeed, 19 of the last 20 winners of the race had done so already.
Intense Raffles - 8/1
Tom Gibney’s runner may only have had two starts in Ireland, but that hasn’t stopped him showing enough to make him a 6/1 second favourite on William Hill for the Irish Grand National.
Both his starts have come at the course too with the first being on the 13th January where he beat Gordon Elliott’s Where It All Began. He went on to finish an admirable 4th in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival to boost the form but arguably Intense Raffles, who runs in the famous double green of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, was even more impressive last time out.
Stepped up in trip to 3m 1f he made all and jumped economically to turn the race into a procession. Front running tactics have been deployed in this race before and with a low weight and progression to come, he could go very close.
Desertmore House - 12/1
Next up is Martin Brassil’s Desertmore House who has already won the Kerry National this season. He followed up that victory with an 8th in the Paddy Power over Christmas. Although that number doesn’t seem so appetising, he was held up out the back in a race where five of the first six home were prominent runners.
That was only 100 yards further than 3 miles too and a step up in trip looks sure to suit. Having been given a spin over hurdles last time out to keep him fit whilst protecting his chasing handicap, he reassured backers he is in rude health with a staying on 3rd. A national trip should bring out the best of him and he can go well with a manageable racing weight of 10st 11lb.
Hartur D'arc - 10/1
The first of two live chances for Gavin Cromwell is Hartur D'arc (10/1 on bet365) who was most impressive recently at Naas. When the season started, this son of Diamond Boy was running for trainer Thomas Gibney where he finished 2nd and 3rd in novice chases.
Yet, in January he switched yards to Gavin Cromwell and hasn't looked back. He first won a beginners chase at Clonmel by 7½ lengths to the consistent Joshua Webb, a horse he was 10 lengths behind in November.
He jumped well from the front that day and built on it last time to win the Leinster National at Naas. Off a light weight of 10st 3lb he stayed on strongly to beat Positive Thinker and Fakiera.
This was again run in soft conditions but he won a point to point and a maiden hurdle on good so seems versatile in that regard. He also gets in here off a similar racing weight of 10st 4lb. Although he's never raced over this marathon trip, it also means it could unlock further improvement.
Yeah Man - 12/1
The second contender for trainer Gavin Cromwell is Yeah Man who was most recently seen winning the Grand National trial at Haydock in February.
That was in heavy ground and he was idling at the finish, so Fairyhouse's sharper course formulation as well as some sounder April ground should help him in that regard.
He was also wearing first time cheekpieces that day, something which can often be most potent on the first occasion. He has gone up 7lb for that run but is clearly improving and if the headgear has the same effect, he does tick a lot of boxes.
Irish Grand National Date & Start Time
The 2024 Irish Grand National will take place on Monday 1st April at Fairyhouse racecourse and is due to be run at 17.00. The race is scheduled to be covered on ITV.
Irish Grand National Betting Tips
Intense Raffles can go very close and appears as the most appealing towards the top end of the market but, at a price, FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU stands out. Available at 20/1, the son of Saddler Maker is already a Grade 2 winner this season over 3 miles.
He's been pitched into two graded races since to no avail but a mark of 145 seems within reach given the quality of opposition he has been running against. He beat Run for Oscar in a bumper and Letsbeclearaboutit in a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle and seems to be all stamina.
The step up to a marathon trip can unlock further improvement and he can go very well for a yard that had the runner up in the race for the past three years.
