Steve Ryder provides a runner-by-runner guide for the key runners in the Irish Grand National.
Irish Grand NationalSee All Odds
The Irish Grand National is the traditional Easter Monday highlight run over 3m5f with horses jumping 24 fences.
Rhyme ‘n’ Reason, Bobbyjo, Numbersixvalverde and I Am Maximus all won this race prior to winning the Aintree Grand National the year after and the winner this year Nick Rockett contested this race when a beaten favourite in 7th under Paul Townend.
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Irish Grand National Key Runners
Haiti Couleurs
Progressive novice chaser who has won three of his four starts over fences. Won the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival which, albeit in a different form this season, is a race that has provided the winner of this in 2007, 2009, 2014 and 2015. Won last time off a mark of 135 by 4 ½ lengths and should hold strong claims off only a 6lb higher mark.
High Class Hero
Was high up in the betting for the Scottish Grand National but has seemingly been saved for this race. Has won six of his ten career starts under rules including when beating stablemate Loughglynn at Punchestown in February. Jumped poorly when beaten at 2/13 last time at Thurles in a Grade 3 Novice Chase but could prove well handicapped off a mark of 148.
Johnnywho
Was campaigned this season with a handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival in mind and it looked as if the plan was going to come off when he traded a short price in running. Beaten a neck into 2nd in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase off a mark of 140, he runs here off a 6lb higher mark for connections who won this with Shutthefrontdoor in 2014.
Now Is The Hour
Caught the eye in his first three chase starts before falling at second last fence when sent off only 6/1 for the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham. Would once again probably prefer softer ground but does still appear well handicapped off a mark of 141.
Kinturk Kalanisi
Represents last year’s winning trainer Tom Gibney and is a novice chaser like Intense Raffles. Caught the eye on his first three chase starts when finishing in the places before unseating his rider at the second last in the Leinster National last time when still going well.
Better Days Ahead
Unexposed novice chaser who has form figures of 1213 over fences with those two defeats coming in Grade 1 company. Was only beaten 4 ¼ lengths in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on his latest start and proved last year when he won a 21 runner Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle that he can handle big fields.
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Daily Present
Had been running well prior to winning the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 130 beating Johnnywho by a neck. Runs in this race off a 7lb higher mark.
Malina Girl
Experienced chaser who will be making her 24th start over fences in this race. Her previous victory came in November 2023 but she has placed on all three of her starts this season including when 3rd in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival off this mark.
Any Second Now
13 year-old veteran who finished 2nd in this race last season behind Intense Raffles off a mark of 140. He runs this year off a 1lb lower mark and has run respectably on his two starts this season.
Aworkinprogress
Progressed six-year-old who has won all of his four starts over fences. Only rated 121 but would be respected if he gets into this race for the Nick Gifford stable.
Quai De Bourbon
Unseated Patrick Mullins in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival before being brought down by a stablemate in the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree last time. This will be only his fifth chase start of his career.
Bioluminescence
Won a Grade 2 Mares Novice Chase at Limerick on her chasing debut before finishing 2nd when trying to concede weight to Dancing City at Naas in January. Finished 2nd here over 2m6f in a listed Mares Novice Chase in February and missed the Cheltenham Festival on account of the drying ground.
Favori De Champdou
Justified favouritism to win a three-runner chase at Down Royal in March by seven lengths. Had previously finished 3rd behind Nick Rockett in the Thyestes Handicap off a mark of 144 and he runs here off 1lb lower.
Panda Boy
His previous victory came in May 2022 but he has run well in competitive handicaps since then. Finished 17th in the Aintree Grand National last season and finished 3rd in the Leinster National last time off this mark.
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Irish Grand National Key Trends
- 9 of the previous 11 winners were beaten last time out
- 8 of the previous 11 winners were aged between 7 and 9.
- 8 of the previous 11 winners carried 10st13 or less
- 8 of the previous 11 winners had at least 5 previous chase starts
- 8 of the previous 11 winners had at least 2 previous chase wins
- 8 of the previous 11 winners had run at Fairyhouse (4 had won)
Irish Grand National Tips
Kinturk Kalanisi 16/1 (0.5pt ew)
Tom Gibney won this race last season with Intense Raffles as a novice chaser and I expect KINTURK KALANISI (best priced at 16/1) to hold strong claims. The seven-year-old finished 3rd behind the Graded winners Better Days Ahead and Slade Steel on his chasing debut before finishing 2nd by a neck at this track on his second start over an inadequate trip of 2m5f. He then finished 2nd in a beginners chase at Navan on his next start when he had subsequent Scottish Grand National winner Captain Cody a nose behind him in 3rd.
Kinturk Kalanisi was still travelling well when unseating 7lb claimer Anna McGuinness at the second last fence in the Leinster National last time and he gets to run here off the same mark of 135 as a result. He sneaks into the race at the bottom of the weights and he looks sure to go well if his jumping holds up.
