A star-studded field will assemble for the 2024 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday and we preview the iconic staying race here. We take a look at some of the key runners and provide our best bet for what is sure to be a hugely competitive betting heat for punters to get stuck into…
Key Runners
NICK ROCKETT
(Willie Mullins)
A Grade 2 winner during his novice hurdling campaign, Nick Rockett has blossomed since switching to fences and he was last seen finishing second to the classy American Mike in the Grade 2 Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan. He certainly lacks experience with only three runs over fences under Rules, but the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old has been well-backed and is open to significant improvement and has to set the standard.
INTENSE RAFFLES
(Thomas Gibney)
Another improving youngster prominent in the betting is Intense Raffles, who has won his last two races at Fairyhouse and the six-year-old is bidding for a hat-trick for Thomas Gibney. A son of former Cheltenham Festival winner Une Artiste, Intense Raffles has been a revelation since moving from France to Ireland and while like Nick Rockett he will have a new test here with a big field lining up in this staying handicap chase, he’s got some class about him and has to be respected.
HARTUR D’ARC
(Gavin Cromwell)
A fine one-and-a-half length victory in the Leinster National last time out has propelled Gavin Cromwell’s Hartur D’Arc into the Irish Grand National reckoning and he’s another seven-year-old looking to shine. Two wins on the bounce over the larger obstacles means he’s another that heads to Fairyhouse in the form of his life and he will be looking to continue on an upward curve and land this notable prize on Monday.
YEAH MAN
(Gavin Cromwell)
Another Gavin Cromwell-trained runner could be Yeah Man, who built on a second placed finish at Ascot back in December with a fine win in the Grand National Trial at Haydock Park. A horse with bundles of stamina, who relished the testing conditions last time out, Yeah Man will have to improve again in what looks a tougher test, but he’s certainly one that will relish this extreme test.
DESERTMORE HOUSE
(Martin Brassil)
Martin Brassil trained Numbersixvalverde to victory in this race back in 2005 and he could well have another notable contender in the 2024 renewal in the shape of Desertmore House, who is well fancied. The nine-year-old is a former winner of the Kerry National and he showed when eighth in the Paddy Power Chase at Christmas time that he can perform well in these sort of races. He had a spin over hurdles to get him right for this and he could be a lively contender at attractive odds.
The Field
Ted Walsh’s Any Second Now may be 12 years old, but he’s a classy staying handicapper and on his day he has to come into calculations, if taking his chance here. A winner of a beginners chase last time out, Henry De Bromhead’s Senior Chief is another young gun looking to put inexperience behind him and land this coveted title, while former Pertemps Final winner Good Time Jonny missed the Cheltenham Festival this year to focus on this contest and he is another that has to be respected.
The likes of Favori De Champou and Daily Present will add significant depth to the race, if they line up, and it’s set to be an absolutely terrific renewal of the Fairyhouse showpiece on Easter Monday.
Big Race Verdict
There’s no doubt that Nick Rockett is an exciting runner for Willie Mullins, but he’s awfully short for a race full of quality and while he’s set to run a big race he’s definitely worth taking on at the prices. Martin Brassil’s DESERTMORE HOUSE is the value play in the contest as he has shown when winning the Kerry National that he can deliver in these sort of races and fresh from a hurdles spin he can grind his way to victory over Nick Rockett, with Yean Man staying on best of the rest in third.
- Desertmore House
- Nick Rockett
- Yeah Man
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