We had an incredible Aintree Grand National and what a story it turned out to be too, with Sam Waley-Cohen finally winning the race for his father on what was his final ever ride. The Irish Grand National though is also a huge deal for the trainers on the Emerald Isle. Adrian Wall has found one horse who should absolutely love the ground at Fairyhouse Racecourse today.
The Irish Grand National has always been the plan this season for the Noel Meade-trained School Boy Hours (22-1). Even though he got a run in the Aintree equivalent, he was a late addition to the race due to some being pulled out on the eve of the final declarations. Sadly, he got no further than the 10th as he was badly hampered by a faller and was pulled up, which can easily happen.
School Boy Hours was very well backed for the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, backed all the way int 5-1 co-favourite before the off. Again, he was creeping into contention when an incident in front of him put him off his stride and he was pulled up again after pecking badly four from home. I can again draw a line through that as he was unfortunate.
When this horse puts it together, he is a brilliant horse as he showed in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in December. It is a race that has worked out extremely well, with Enjoy D’Allen back in third, Death Duty in fifth, Birchdale in sixth, and the Aintree Grand National winner Noble Yeats back in ninth.
He only led in the final 50 yards of the race and on tat evidence would be massively suited by an extreme distance. School Boy Hours has his ground and trip today, he just needs a bit of luck.
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