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Irish Grand National Runners – Rockett to the Top of Betting for Fairyhouse Marathon

63 runners remain in contention for the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse, run at the start of April on Easter Monday. They are headlined by the Willie Mullins-trained novice Nick Rockett, who would be having just his fourth start over fences were he to line-up in this staying handicap showpiece.

JP McManus owned the winner last season in I Am Maximus, who is set to go for Grand National glory at Aintree this season. However, his green and gold colours are likely to be seen in the race courtesy of numerous potential runners. Both Corbetts Cross and Inothewayurthinkin were impressive winners at the Cheltenham Festival, while Perceval Legallois missed the big meeting at Prestbury Park.

A maximum of 30 runners can run in the marathon handicap, with 19 of the current top 30 trained by either Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott. The latter trains prospective top-weight Ash Tree Meadow, the Galway Plate winner last season, with the former represented in second at the weights by Stattler.

The last horse currently guaranteed a run in the race is the Henry De Bromhead yard’s Eklat De Rire. Perceval Legallois is one of those hoping for a number of defections, as are other fancied runners Intense Raffles, Yeah Man and Hartur D’arc, who could well be among many people’s Irish Grand National tips as the race approaches.

Irish Grand National Odds

Currently a best price 6/1, Nick Rockett is the ante-post favourite with a little under two weeks to go until the race at time of writing. He heads a market mostly dominated by JP McManus, with both Corbetts Cross and Perceval Legallois next in at 8/1 at best prices, with Inothewayurthinkin and Intense Raffles at 10/1.

The top ten in the market are outlined below:

NumberHorseTrainerBest Odds
19Nick RockettWillie Mullins6/1
3Corbetts CrossEmmet Mullins8/1
45Perceval LegalloisGavin Cromwell8/1
4InothewayurthinkinGavin Cromwell10/1
34Intense RafflesThomas Gibney10/1
12Embassy GardensWillie Mullins14/1
44Hartur D’arcGavin Cromwell14/1
40AmiriteHenry De Bromhead14/1
6Limerick LaceGavin Cromwell16/1
38Yeah ManGavin Cromwell16/1