Irish Grand National: Main candidates, odds, trends and a big race verdict

Fairyhouse‘s Easter Festival is a major highlight of the spring racing calendar and it’s set to conclude on Monday. The big race of the day is the €350,000 Irish Grand National and it’s shaping up to be a cracking race once again. Our big race preview will tell you all you need to know about the main candidates, the recent trends and we’ve also provided an 11/1 tip for the big race. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.

Main contenders

3. Nick Rockett

Willie Mullins’ lightly raced chaser has shown some fair form over the larger obstacles but a mark of 146 is hefty enough.

11. Hartur D’arc

This horse will appreciate the testing conditions and he was a good winner of the Leinster National last time out. He’s entitled to run a big race if getting the trip.

7. Intense Raffles

Very little is known about this French import but he absolutely bolted up when winning here over an extended 3m1f last time out. A mark of 140 feels like guess work but he can run well if backing up that latest effort.

15. Good Time Jonny

Tony Martin’s nine-year-old won at the Cheltenham Festival last year but he hasn’t taken too well to fences and is probably best watched.

8. Yeah Man

There are no stamina doubts at all with regards to this horse, as he won the Grand National Trial at Haydock last time out. The seven-year-old is capable of being right in the mix.

11. Senior Chief

Unbeaten in two starts on heavy ground, Henry de Bromhead’s gelding has improved with each of his three starts over fences thus far. Further progress is expected and he should be in the mix.

Trends

Six of the last 10 Irish Grand National winners were six or seven-year-olds and this suggests that older more exposed horses are probably worth taking on.

Seven of the last 10 winners were victorious off marks lower than 140. If taken literally, this would rule out eight of the 21 runners but marks in the low 140s should still be manageable.

Only three of the last 10 winners were favourites so don’t be afraid to take one at a bigger price. There have been 150/1, 50/1 and 40/1 winners during this time as well!

Verdict

Senior Chief runs off a mark of 141 which should be manageable here. Henry de Bromhead’s seven-year-old is lightly raced and thoroughly unexposed over fences, making him the ideal candidate for this test.

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