Neil Morrice brings us his full preview for the Irish Grand National taking place at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday. Also in today’s preview, Neil looks at Redcar, Wolverhampton, Huntingdon, Fakenham, Chepstow and Plumpton in what is be a jam-packed Easter Monday schedule!
IRISH GRAND NATIONAL PREVIEW
More than 30 losing runners in Ireland’s most cherished steeplechase means that champion trainer Willie Mullins will be reaching for his lucky shamrock when sending out a ‘Super Seven’ team matched only by Gordon Elliott who intends to field a dozen.
Mullins’ quest for a first Irish National win features TOTAL RECALL, BURROWS SAINT, ISLEOFHOPENDREAMS, ACAPELLA BOURGEOIS, BELLOW MOME, C’EST JERSEY and the one that I believe is the ace in the pack, PAIROFBROWNEYES.
Total Recall enjoyed a stellar season 2017-2018 season when landing both the Munster National and the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury and one of his two outings this season resulted in a second to Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo at Tramore.
Burrows Saint has been one of the best backed in the ante-post market and Ruby Walsh showed keenness to ride him which is something of a tip in itself. He’s taking a first step into handicap company but several novices have successfully taken this leap before.
Isleofhopendreams went close to winning the 2018 Irish National and when finishing second in the Leinster National indicated he is rapidly coming to his peak.
Acapella Bourgeois will enjoy the drying ground, having come good at Clonmel on his latest outing. Jonathan Burke takes the reins.
Bellow Mome competes off just 10 stone after finishing third in the Leinster National. His jockey David Mullins expects him to come on a bomb for what was just a second outing this season.
C’Est Jersey is a maiden over fences and this will be his first run in a handicap. He’s something of a wildcard but has the ability to be involved.
Pairofbrowneyes displayed his liking for Naas with a second triumph in the Leinster National but afterwards, his connections were in a dilemma over whether to let him take his chance in the Grand National. Their decision to wait for this can pay dividends, as jockey Paul Townend was quick to pick him and believes the gelding can bring his A-game to the table even though a bit of cut in the ground would help him.
Meanwhile, the Elliott dozen include last year’s winner GENERAL PRINCIPLE who bids to become the first back-to-back winner since Brown Lad in 1976.
Noel Meade is quietly confident top weight TOUT EST PERMIS can have a say even though it will be his first stab at going further than three miles.
Neil Morrice’s Predicted Finish
First: PAIROFBROWNEYES
Second: Burrows Saint
Third: General Principle
Fourth: Isleofhopendreams
Fifth: Acapella Bourgeois
Redcar Best Bet
Race 3: TADAAWOL (5)
Trainer: Roger Fell
Jockey: B Sanderson
Course form counts for a great deal at this venue and TADAAWOL owns it in spades. The keen going front runner only capitulated approaching the final furlong of his needed comeback outing a fortnight ago and that’s served to bring him to concert pitch for a wire to wire performance.
Wolverhampton Best Bet
Race 7: SETTING SAIL (2)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: William Buick
Without question the most interesting horse in action at Dunstall Park this afternoon, SETTING SAIL is playing catch up after an enforced absence of almost 600 days. Before going onto the sidelines he’d looked very promising, following up a debut second with a taking win at Goodwood. It has to be assumed that Appleby wouldn’t have persevered with Setting Sail unless he strongly believed the horse is back on course for bountiful horizons.
Huntingdon Best Bets
Race 4: SAUMUR (5)
Trainer: Denis Coakley
Jockey: Aidan Coleman
An eye-catching jockey booking for this recent course and distance winner moving into handicaps for the first time. The 7yo warmed to her task the longer the race went on and scored going away and can serve up a similar performance.
Race 5: TEMPLEMARK (2)
Trainer: Ben Case
Jockey: Max Kendrick
With four second placings in his last six outings, it’s easy to think TEMPLEMARK has a kink in his make up, but with his trainer in flying form, this is probably the time to trust him to deliver, especially as he finds himself in a race where his jockey can work to a definite plan.
Fakenham Best Bet
Race 1: ZOFFANY BAY (1)
Trainer: Ali Stronge
Jockey: Andrew Tinkler
With market rival Red Royalist bringing all-weather form to the table in this weak novices’ hurdle, ZOFFANY BAY should gain a much-deserved success after a couple of recent near misses. The latest offering from the five-year-old came at this course and he can utilise that knowledge to his advantage.
Chepstow Best Bet
Race 4: MAGIC SAINT (1)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Jockey: Harry Cobden
The fields have cut up badly owing to the drying ground but MAGIC SAINT should handle the prevailing conditions and stamp his seal on the day’s feature. He hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations held of him but can be forgiven his flop in the Grand Annual Chase and departed too early to know what would have happened when fancied for a much better race than this at Ayr last time.
Plumpton Best Bets
Race 1: ZANZI WIN (2)
Trainer: Harry Whittington
Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
The progressive ZANZI WIN holds a fine chance of following up a recent course and distance triumph even though 3lb higher in the weights. He goes to post with abundant stable confidence that he can outpoint Praeceps who after finishing a creditable sixth in the Fred Winter is fully entitled to start favourite.
Race 6: BOSTIN (4)
Trainer: David O’Brien
Jockey: Wayne Hutchinson
A veteran who is not the easiest to train, BOSTIN returns from a two-month absence on what will be just his third start of the season. He caught the eye in a similar race at this course when last seen in February and should relish track, trip and ground, making himself a tempting Each Way proposition.
