Nick Rockett is the big favourite for Easter Monday’s Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
Irish Grand National
The main attraction on Easter Monday at Fairyhouse Racecourse in County Meath is the richly-popular €500,000 BoyleSports Irish Grand National.
This particular highlight, the richest race in the Irish National Hunt Season, has traditionally seen some of the greats of jump racing take the spoils, including Desert Orchid and Arkle.
I Am Maximus claimed the race 12 months ago under Paul Townend for trainer Willie Mullins. With a field of 30 set to go to post, another tantalising spectacle is undoubtedly upon us this weekend.
The favourite at the time of writing is Willie Mullins’ Nick Rockett at 4/1 (William Hill), who sidestepped Cheltenham in preference for this deeper contest.
Irish Grand National Runners
A deeper look at the leading protagonists for Monday’s Irish Grand National.
Nick Rockett - 9/2f
This dual-course winner started his campaign with an eye-catching fourth-place finish at Fairyhouse in a race that has been given a timely boost since, with the likes of Corbett’s Cross subsequently winning the National Hunt Chase and Monty’s Star finishing second behind Fact To File in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. That is quality form in the context of this assignment.
A victory was to follow on New Year’s Day at the course before only finding American Mike too strong in a Grade 2 race when last spotted.
The fact that his handler has deliberately skipped Cheltenham with him in favour of this contest is interesting, to say the least, but the seven-year-old still has his stamina to prove, and he’s very light on chase experience for such a demanding race.
Intense Raffles - 6/1
This six-year-old grey achieved a good level of form when formerly trained in France. He is a really fascinating runner for Tony Gibney, considering that this is just his third start in Ireland after two facile victories. On his stable debut, he beat subsequent Kim Muir fourth, Where It All Began, and improved on that next time out when stepped up to 3m1f, in which he scored by 43 lengths.
Coincidentally, both of those wins have come at this course, and the way he has flourished in the jumping department from the front was very uplifting. His handler knows what it takes to win the race, having won it with Lion Na Bearnai in 2012, so despite his lack of experience for such a race now that he is in the lion’s den, his participation and upwardly mobile profile do make him a leading contender.
Hartur D’arc - 14/1
The first of two representatives for the Gavin Cromwell team. He was impressive in winning at Naas on his stable debut in February after placing in his first couple of chase starts with his former boss, and built on that to win the Leinster National back at the same venue.
He’s yet to race over a trip this far, but he could improve for it, and his same owner had Velvet Elvis back in sixth in this race last year. He could run well but might be exposed to something with a bit more class when it matters most, so he’s passed over from a betting stance.
Yeah Man - 8/1
The second of two leading players for trainer Gavin Cromwell. This seven-year-old has significantly raised his game since finishing down the field on his chase debut. He was running well in the Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot in November, when he was booked to finish second before he fell at the final fence.
Nevertheless, he proved that mishap to be no issue, as he filled the runner-up spot in the Howden Silver Cup over the same course and distance next time out. More recently, he showcased staying power to win the Grand National Trial at Haydock over 3m4f on bottomless ground, and he has plenty more to come.
As a result of that success, the handicapper has taken a swing at his mark by putting him up 7Ib, but he’s completely unexposed over marathon distances, and it’ll be interesting to see if the headgear he wore last time out works again. He should have more to offer and cannot be ruled out, despite a new personal best required if he’s to succeed.
Senior Chief - 10/1
An interesting seven-year-old. He has three wins and five placed efforts from just eight starts, while his chase debut third has been positively advertised since, given that the first and second have subsequently won at the Cheltenham Festival. The winner, Gaelic Warrior, won the Arkle, and the second, Inothewayurthinkin, won the Kim Muir.
He couldn’t get to grips with Minella Cocooner on his next start, but he shaped like he would improve for a longer distance in finishing second. Despite only scrambling home at Punchestown last time out, he was again strong at the finish. An opening handicap debut mark of 141 seems lenient, and he could be the horse to provide Henry de Bromhead with his first win in the race.
Any Second Now - 16/1
This veteran, trained by Ted Walsh, is in the latter stages of his career, but he’s still capable of smart form. He has fallen to a career-low chase mark of 140 and warmed up for this with a respectable spin over hurdles at Naas last month.
Even though he’s been winless since winning the Webster Cup last year, the 12-year-old will not lack stamina, given the fact that he’s twice made the frame in the Grand National at Aintree. His record at this course reads U2F1, so he’s a formidable opponent despite being vulnerable to younger legs.
Favori De Champdou - 16/1
This nine-year-old does bring a touch of class to the race and represents the same trainer and owner who won this back in 2018 with General Principle. With all due respect to that horse, I feel as though this horse has more natural talent.
His record going right-handed is pretty impressive, which reads 4212111421, and it’s worth pointing out how easily he won the Grade 2 Florida Pearl at Punchestown back in November, with the likes of Sandor Clegane and Flooring Porter in behind.
Both of those horses emerged with immense credit in defeat at the Cheltenham Festival last month, and it’s clear to see that he is very well handicapped off a mark of 145. Favori De Champdou (fancied by Jamie Radford) should be suited to the extreme test of stamina and will get into the race at a nice weight, so he’s of definite interest.
Minella Cocooner - 25/1
Willie Mullins’ eight-year-old has the ability to make a serious impact if he is able to appreciate the step-up in distance. He was a well-backed favourite for the Leinster National last time out, and although he could only finish sixth of 12, this Grade 1-winning hurdler is dangerously well handicapped off 148 and has mostly been a model of consistency during his career.
He hasn’t been able to scale the heights like he did over hurdles, but his three runs at the highest level read 122, and the champion trainer is adamant he stays all day.
We have yet to see the best of him over fences, and if he does decide to run to his capabilities, then he’s surely too big of a price. He could do with brushing up his jumping, but he’s unexposed in this sphere and shouldn’t be dismissed.
Irish Grand National Tips & Predictions
This isn’t the strongest of renewals, so it should be a little easier to narrow down a shortlist of three.
INTENSE RAFFLES (tipped at 8/1) has won both his starts for this stable very impressively, where he has jumped beautifully from the front, and the combination of a handy mark of 140 and a low weight will prove crucial in a race of this nature.
The way he dispatched the subsequent Kim Muir fourth, Where It All Began, suggested we could be dealing with a horse who could yet rank higher. I have an inclination he could win this and win it well, so he’s the first of three bets at the odds.
Intense Raffles, 1pt WIN, 8/1
FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU (tipped at 25/1) has a great record going right-handed, and the form of his Grade 2 win in the Florida Pearl is quality form, as a couple of horses he had in behind have emerged with credit in defeat at the Cheltenham Festival.
He is a very good horse when at his best, and he has often been shaping like he would appreciate an extreme test of stamina. With five places on offer, he can be backed accordingly each way.
