Irish Grand National 2012

1 pt each/way Four Commanders, Irish Grand National (4.50 Fairyhouse, 12/1 general)

It’s Grand National week starting today but the Irish equivalent – so often a major prelude to the chances of future Aintree contenders – is going to be a contest in itself and will take some winning. Gigginstown Stud have already had an absolutely memorable season and it could get even better because Four Commanders has a first rate chance of landing this afternoon’s feature prize.

A fair hurdler, he was always going to improve a lot for fences and did so in style when running out a ready winner of his beginners chase following his second on debut, and he has since then run into two of Ireland’s best novice chasers in Last Instalment and Sir Des Champs, ( boldly out infront before getting tired and then finishing a valiant second), before finishing fourth in Woodlands Park novice chase and then when only losing out by three quarters of a length in the Ten Up Novice Chase.

The fact that he was outpointed by a 50/1 shot might have disappointed some but he improved for the better ground when running a valiant third to Harry The Viking and Teaforthree  in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, only just being outstayed after a mistake at the last. That looked to be the mistake of a tiring horse, so the drop back to 3m5f should be just perfect and he goes into this race with an excellent chance giving Mouse Morris another Irish National following the success of Hear The Echo in 2008.

1 pt each/way Start Me Up, Irish Grand National (4.50 Fairyhouse, 20/1 general)

In the Ten Up Novice Chase, a smart Ruby Walsh ride nearly got Start Me Up home infront but he faded late on to be outrun by the selection in the neck of the line. The pair were separated by just a nose, but you can get double the price about him compared to Four Commanders and that has to be worth having onside.

Previously before that he’s since beaten Berties Dream in soft ground at Navan, been third to Grand National contender Seabass in the Tim Duggan Memorial handicap chase, and was travelling as well as any when slipping up before the third last in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown, where he would have been third at worst if staying on his feet. The winner Portrait King has since gone onto land the Eider, while the second Up The Beat was a respectable fourth in the Kim Muir behind Grand National contenders. Indeed Start Me Up was fifth that day, where he would have been closer but for a mistake three out. It’s a worry that he has some slight jumping issues but with Barry Dalton taking 7lbs off his back and a generous 2lbs drop for his effort at the Festival, he looks to be worth having onside as well.

Ninetieth Minute comes into the race as favourite and he should be respected based on his wide margin win in his beginners chase last time out, but also because of the fact that he represents Tom Taffe (trainer of Grand National hope Treacle) and the presence of rising force Andrew Lynch in the saddle, although this is going to be a whole lot harder than the beginners chase he romped home in last time.

Groody Hill is the mount of AP McCoy from any number of decent chances that he had and must be respected based on that, with no worried over his good ground form from this perspective and the step up in trip looking sure to suit him.

Glam Gerry was running a nice race before falling in the Thyestes and the step up in trip shaped like it would suit when he was third(having got going all too late) in the Bryne Group Plate at Cheltenham. Alfie Sheerin is a fascinating contender here off the back of his Cheltenham win – one for which he is lightly treated considering the profile and competiveness of that race beforehand – and the trip should only help his chances. Last Year’s winning rider Nine Carberry should get a terrific ride from Lastoftheleaders although stamina is a concern. Alee Garde has some of the best claims in the field (his third to Last Instalment in a Grade 1 at Christmas) so I was surprised to hear Willie Mullins say that he had “a lot of weight for a novice” with just 10-13 on his back.

Aigle D’or looks like one who should enjoy the trip and is really well in with the protagonists in the Paddy Power (he’s 8lbs better off with Cross Appeal alone, while he’s weight to turn around the form with Leanne and Groody Hill), so the 20/1 about him was very tempting. Lion Na Bernai - ahead of Four Commanders and Start Me Up last time – looks potentially huge at 40’s given that line of form, having been beaten off 108 the last time he was seen in a handicap.