Tipster Brian Healy takes three against the field in the Irish Grand National.
Easter Monday’s highlight of Fairyhouse’s high-class and competitive racecard is the Boylesports Irish Grand National, which takes place over 3m 5f of the County Meath track.
The race, which was first run back in 1870 has an illustrious roll-call of winners, and past champions of the high-class handicap chase include Butler’s Cabin, Commanche Court, Bobbyjo, Desert Orchid, Rhyme ‘n’ Reason and Tied Cottage, as well as three-time winner Brown Lad.
The 2014 winner of the race, Shutthefrontdoor, currently heads the market for the Aintree equivalent.
GRAND JESTURE looks to hold solid claims for Henry de Bromhead and Johnny Burke.
The Gold Well gelding already has winning course form to his name when beating Hit The Headlines by just over six lengths in January last year, and the talented gelding last tasted victory just three runs ago when beating Sadler’sflaure at Punchestown back in December.
The Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over the festive period may have come too soon for him when he was never a factor under a penalty, finishing in mid-division behind Living Next Door; but he bounced back to form to chase down The Druids Nephew at the Cheltenham Festival on his last outing.
Raised just 1lb for that run, he could yet have further improvement to come and another big run could be on the cards.
The ultra-consistent LOS AMIGOS could also feature prominently, anad Jim Dreaper’s charge has placed in each of his last six outings, winning three of them including on his most recent outing when returning from an 11-month absence to beat 2012 Irish Grand National winner Lion Na Bearnai.
That run came over a shorter trip than he goes over on this occasion, but he should stay this additional distance based on his fine runner-up effort behind On His Own in last season’s Theystes Chase.
His most recent run has seen the handicapper react with just a 5lbs rise in the weights, and the manner of that win suggests he could still have something more in his locker after just five chase starts, and with the ground coming right for him he should be capable of going close in first-time cheekpieces.
THUNDER AND ROSES could well outrun his odds under Katie Walsh, and Sandra Hughes’ charge brings some useful form to the table despite winning just once over the larger obstacles.
That win came at this venue when running out a wide margin winner of a beginners’ chase in January, beating Katnap in excess of 20 lengths, and followed up that run with a fine third of six upped to Grade Two company behind Very Wood in the Ten Up Chase.
The Presenting gelding looks every inch a stayer who will relish this test, and he ran a fair race although was starting to struggle in the National Hunt Chase when unseating his rider. His jumping wasn’t all that fluent on that occasion, and he made a few mistakes throughout the race before departing .
Perhaps he wasn’t suited by being held up off the pace and he’s likely to be racing more prominently this time around. Cheek-pieces may help focus him, and he could run a big race.
BOYLESPORTS IRISH GRAND NATIONAL – THREE AGAINST THE FIELD
GRAND JESTURE
LOS AMIGOS
THUNDER AND ROSES
