Irish Grand National 2013

‘We’ve never had it so good’ is a phrase associated exclusively with Harold MacMaillan but for those who like sport, betting, both or just having fun, Easter’s a pretty decent time of year. The Champions League quarter finals pit Europe’s footballing best against eachother  the Grand National is one of the highlights of the racing year – and also one of the best race meetings with it – in a week bookended by the Heineken Cup quarter finals.

Today’s Irish Grand National is a fine way to start the action, although it’s a tough to remember a more fiercely competitive renewal in some years, with anyone of 7 horses all being valid favourites, although they’re all frustratingly less than 16/1 in an already difficult race. When trying to find the typical winner of big handicap the weights the dot be a key point of focus for many, but the presence of David Pipe’s Junior on 155 means that just 15lbs covers the whole field, making a race which plays host to several potentially well handicapped, unexposed horses who promise to improve for the trip. Marasonnien, a Grade 1 winner over hurdles in ground that was pretty much untraceable, is the dictionary definition of such a horse and while he was well beaten by our second tip and current favourite Home Farm, it should be remembered that this trip of a full mile further is more than likely to bring stark improvement out of him based on his hurdles form and with the emphasis more on stamina today, he should thrive and looks to be one of Willie Mullins’s better recent chances of winning the race, with more improvement to come (like so many of these) on just his fourth chasing start. Home Farm beat him very easily in that beginners chase when the two last met, and while he’s never been this far, Arthur Moore’s previous win with Numbersixvalverde in 2005 gives every confidence that he will be ready for this test and his breeding – being out of Presenting and also being related to Jodami – along with the style of his finish, suggests that he should be able to improve for a staying trip.

 

Several, including the three timer Rich Revival, are well fancied, but even with his penalty for winning the Irish Stallion Farms novice handicap final, Gigginstown House Stud’s Panther Claw (left) has a 6lbs pull with Rich Revival for their meeting here in December and looks to be best of the rest for this event; It goes without saying to look for the bookamkers paying 5 each/way places in this event.

The opener is about as far removed from the Irish Grand National as possible, but the morning drift on Zaidpour is hard to understand given his Irish record and while he was pulled up in the World Hurdle, this is far removed and this course and distance saw him win his one and only Grade 1 and he can give weight and a beating to his rivals in the Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle.

Advice

1 pt win Zaidpour, 2.40 Fairyhouse (13/8 general)

1 pt each/way Marasonnien, 4.50 Fairyhouse (11/1 Bet365, Bet Victor, Paddy Power)

1 pt each/way Home Farm (11/1 Bet Victor)

1 pt each/way Panther Claw (12/1 general)