Irish Grand National - Fairyhouse 5.00 - 3 miles 5 furlongs - 30 run

 

This isn't actually an extreme stamina test by the standards of those at 4 miles plus but the heavy rain on Friday and into Saturday will ensure testing Going and rule a few out.

 

My shortlist is dominated by one Trainer , the seismic shock is that it's not Willie Mullins, nor indeed Gordon Elliott, not indeed Henry De Bromhead but Gavin Cromwell and I think that just evidences his overall meteoric progress in recent years.

 

That's not to say Mullins, Elliott and De Bromhead can't find a winner, they may well do, as may Rebecca Curtis from deepest West Wales, so West she's almost an Irish Yard by default.

 

My early shortlist included Favouri De champdou, Sequestered; Sa Majeste and Any Second Now all of who may have preferred better ground, and those "middling types" who could run very well if everything fell in to place like Lord Lariat, Kinturk Kalanisi and Another Choice and again the ground is a factor for some of those.

 

I reluctantly discarded one of the Cromwell runners in the redoubtable Malina Girl at the final stage where I whittled 7 down to 4 horses and if that one was 7th rated, then it was harder to leave out the 6th rated Will Do @ 16/1 , who has sneaked in to the race at the last minute and who may well sneak in to an enhanced place too and the 5th rated MINT BOY @ 25/1 another for Cromwell and a reserve if we have a non-runner or if you want the extra dabble.

 

My top 4 are-:

 

NOW IS THE HOUR - an absolute brute of a horse who I think will both love the ground and stay all day, if he jumps round and has luck in running he will gallop relentlessly to the line and I think he can aspire higher than this next season if he does.

 

BIOLUMINESCENCE ticks all the boxes for me and she seeks to be a rare female winner of this race, another who will benefit from the rain and provided conditions don't dry out too much a very strong contender.

 

YEAH MAN ran very well in this race last year until a late error, more exposed and a bigger price but if the more fancied horses don't deliver this is the sort of dour consistent performer who can take advantage.

 

QUAI DE BOURBON is the best of the Mullins hopes in my opinion, is he distracted by trying to win the UK Title again, certainly not in terms of his entries and options here, and if jumping round this one has a real touch of Class about him and certainly another who can aspire to the highest level in time. 

 

(Sean)

 

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Fairyhouse 3.15 - Handicap Hurdle - 2 miles 6 furlongs - 17 run - Soft / Heavy

 

I have one very confident one here at a nice each way price and that is LUCKY LYREEN. The ground went against this one and i believe explains a poor Cheltenham run and many in the Yard were not quite 100% there either, roll on a few weeks and the demeanour and runners from the Yard has notched up a tick and with far more suitable underfoot conditions I think this one is the one they all have to beat.

 

OSCARS BROTHER is up 5lbs for a very promising run on handicap debut and a repeat of that would certainly be good enough to place in a field I think lacks depth.

 

Of the remainder, small e/w punts at nice prices to enhanced odds on ARION SOLDIER my 3rd best rated despite being off for 176 days and a horse to TRACK forwards and Come Walk With me who is locally trained and who might sneak a place might pay a nice return. (MG)

 

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Chepstow 4.44 - Handicap Hurdle - Class 5 - 2 miles 7 and 1/2 furlongs - 16 run - Good

 

I think that Quite The Getaway and Gorcombe Moonshine can win summer NH races but both may struggle at the trip and prefer flatter, less undulating Tracks but I'll TRACK both. Lough Owel gets a first time tongue tie and together with Mattie Ross (who is my 4th highest rated so a reserve if we have a non runner) could improve for the assistance. 

 

My clear and overwhelmingly top rated is RI NA CUIRTE a runner up last time over Course and Distance, penalised for it but i think the one they all have to beat.

 

At bigger more speculative odds both FANTOUMAS who has struggled to repeat some good form last Spring but whose mark has now fallen back to that sort of level accordingly and who gets a first time tongue tie to go with the regular visor and ELFRIDE who could be better than the bare form suggests at big odds as it has slipped quietly below its last winning mark, could run very big races here. (RJ)

 

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