Hopes are high for Gaillard Du Mesnil ahead of the BoyleSports Irish Grand National - check out our star columnist on him and the rest of his Easter Monday team.
MONDAY:
Cork
13:50 Tenzing
He looks like he needs a trip so we’re going over three miles. He jumps well and Kieran Callaghan claims a valuable seven off him. He’ll be chasing in the future.
17:19 Largy Hill
Jody [Townend] was keen to go down to Cork to ride this fellow. He works nicely and is a nice jumping prospect for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
Fairyhouse
14:05 Gjoumi
She ran well when second at Limerick the last day but has a tough task under top weight. We’re putting Jack Foley up to take five pounds off and she’s a mare who’s been improving all season.
14:05 Vadaly
She’s been a little disappointing since she came over from France. It’s her first handicap and only her third run for us, and while I think she might want a longer trip she takes her chance here.
14:40 Icare Allen
He ran a cracker to finish fourth behind Vauban in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and drops back in class to a Grade Two here. It should put him in this with a winning chance.
15:50 Jon Snow
It’s his first run after a long break. He will probably need it and might be best watched with a view to a summer campaign where he might run on the flat, too.
15:50 Whiskey Sour
He came back to form on his last run when winning at Leopardstown and might be able to build on that with a top-three finish here.
16:20 Blackbow
He won in Clonmel last time. He is up to this level and might give the favourite most to do here. He had a good run over this course when second behind Dunvegan in the Dan & Joan Moore Memorial in January so we know he likes the place.
16:20 Cilaos Emery
He has lost his form lately and if he was placed here I’d be very pleased with that.
16:20 Easy Game
He won this race last year but lost his form afterwards and we gave him a break. It’s a big question to ask him to come back and win this against hard-fit horses. He’s possibly best watched.
16:20 Janidil
He has a much easier task here than when trying to take on Allaho in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. He ran a great race there to chase his stablemate home and has won a Grade One on this track before. The conditions of the race suit him and if Cheltenham hasn’t taken its toll then he looks the pick of ours in this contest.
17:00 Franco De Port
He’s ended up with top weight but Jack Foley’s five-pound claim will be a big help in a race that historically it’s been very hard for horses carrying over 11st 4lb to win. Maybe that will change and this horse is in very good form and will handle the ground.
17:00 Gaillard Du Mesnil
Paul rides him and he’s in great form. He had a very good run at Cheltenham and has every chance going into this. He has the right sort of profile for this race apart from the weight he carries – 11st 8lb. If any horse can break the stats he has a good chance of being the one.
18:10 Hunters Yarn
This is a very competitive bumper but he has been pleasing us at home and I’m very happy with him. I think he’s a horse who has improved as the season has gone on and we’re keeping him as a novice over hurdles for next season.