BoyleSports Horse Racing Ambassador Robbie Power talked to us about all things BoyleSports Irish Grand National in an exclusive interview.
Power, who rode Our Duke to victory in the big race in 2017, previewed the feature from Fairyhouse on Easter Monday and revealed his tip for the race.
He also gave us his take on the prestige of the BoyleSports Irish Grand National, how it stacks up to the Aintree Grand National and what type of horse it takes to win Ireland’s most prestigious race.
12/1 BoyleSports Irish Grand National Tip
I think Willie’s horse (Nick Rockett @ 4/1) is the right favourite. He is a novice, only had three runs over fences and has beaten Tactical Move, was second to American Mike and also beat Cheltenham Festival winner Corbett’s Cross over course and distance at Fairyhouse.
I would think Willie has had this race in the back of his mind for him for a long time. Henry de Bromhead has an interesting runner in the race in Senior Chief (12/1), he’s only run three times over fences but has finished third to Gaelic Warrior who won at Cheltenham and a second to Minella Cocooner, so he has some chances and strong form.
They would be the two against the field I’ll be keeping on side. I am respectful of Desertmore House, he’s a decent horse for Martin Brassil and Tom Gibney’s horse, Intense Raffles, he has won twice around Fairyhouse.
*The BoyleSports Irish Grand National takes place on Monday, April 1st and you can bet on the big race with our BoyleSports Irish Grand National odds .
There are four runners I would take against the field and that are of interest; but my preference? I will stick with my own team with Senior Chief. This race will bring out the best in him, this has been the plan for him all season.
It is a big field and you need plenty of luck. Digby was fourth, though well beaten at Navan and before that was a very good second to Klassical Dream at Thurles so he is a novice with some good form and has a nice weight.
Dermot McLoughlin (Digby’s trainer) knows what it takes to win one, it is unusual for a horse rated 128 to have a spot in the National but this year it seems different, Digby is definitely getting a run off a light weight.
How The Irish Grand National and England Grand National Stack Up
They are two completely different kettles of fish. I had not much luck in the Irish National up to Our Duke in 2017, I had some seconds. It is a race that has good links form wise to the English National, back as far as Bobbyjo and Nunbersixvalverde, the form ties in well the following year.
The Prestige of the BoyleSports Irish Grand National
It’s a huge event. When I was a kid growing up, the BoyleSports Irish Grand National was always the race you looked forward to.
For a while it lost its popularity and importance in the calendar but thanks to the sponsorship of BoyleSports and the race now worth €500,000, the richest chase in Ireland, it is well deserved and a great race to win.
It’s coming back to prominence. This year with Easter being early, the Grand National falls on April Fools Day so it is going to be a lucky joke for someone. It is particularly early this year, before Aintree and two weeks after Cheltenham so it might have affected it a little bit as there are only 33 runners in it at the moment.
So there is the danger that it might not fill this year, which would be very unusual for an Irish Grand National.
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This Is The Type Of Horse That Wins An Irish Grand National
They need to be a very good horse for a start, and one that can jump really well and that can travel really well, they need a high cruising speed and need to have the stamina to stay for three-and-a-half miles as well.
Novices have a good record, they creep in under the handicappers radar a little bit and this year’s race will be no exception.
Jumping is key. You start off in the corner, it’s two full circuits of the track. You have three fences on the run up to Ballyhack and then when you get to Ballyhack, you have three more fences in a straight line then three more to bring you back towards the straight, and then another three in the straight so every time you turn a corner, there are three fences in front of you.
You need a horse that jumps really well to be successful around Fairyhouse.
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