Irish Grand National Fairyhouse Guide 2023

Experienced ten-year-old for Eric McNamara who was a very good chaser in his youth, running well in graded chases such as the Cheltenham Gold Cup and and the Horse and Jockey Hotel Grade Two Chase at Thurles. Hasn’t been near his best since, despite winning 28-runner Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas by a short head to Diol Ker.

That was his first win for about two years and he is yet to go over this trip, but an experienced runner who has bags of ability on his day shouldn’t be dismissed.

Gordon Elliott sends the former Kim Muir Handicap Chase winner in 2020 to the Irish Grand National after a very poor run of form. Hasn’t managed to finish on three occasions during 2021/22 before finishes of fifth and ninth (twice) most recently.

Likely to continue that poor form here.

Experienced ten-year-old for Gordon Elliott who has run well in recent times, finishing third of 12 in Punchestown handicap in February as well as 18 lengths behind Angels Dawn to finish fifth in Kim Muir Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last month.

Last win also came here back in April last year and the trip should be fine for him having run at Punchestown over 3m 4f recently. One to keep an eye on if going well again.

Good stayer for Venetia Williams who arrives here off 160, following sixth of 13 in Cheltenham Gold Cup and second to Bravemansgame in the 3m King George back in December. Has been running in top company for a while, including the Gold Cup in the last few years and hasn’t been disgraced.

The nine-year-old should comfortably stay this trip and Charlie Deutsch is on board the Williams gelding for his first Irish Grand National appearance.

Nine-year-old Barry Connell gelding who has experience in this contest, finishing 18th of 28 back in 2021 when priced at 16/1. Most recently returned to fences after a couple of hurdling outings at Fairyhouse and Galway with fifth of 18 in Gowran Park handicap chase over 3m 1f in January.

Then won in the hands of the promising Michael O’Sullivan last time out in Naas handicap over 3m last month when priced at 7/2, beating History Of Fashion by seven and a half lengths. That win was his first for a while and looks an unlikely winner.

Inconsistent nine-year-old this season who won 2m 5f Leopardstown handicap in February, beating Foxy Jacks by just over a length at 9/2fav. Has since been inconsistent, not finishing twice at Galway and Leopardstown (both pulled up) as well as finishes of fourth, seventh, sixth, second and seventh again since that victory.

Steps up to the 3m 5f trip for the first time today and on recent form, it looks unlikely that he will win here.

Nine-year-old who has been off three months after finishing fourth of 12 in Punchestown 3m 4f chase in the Grand National Trial. Not disgraced in this last year, finishing eighth off three lbs higher. Hasn’t been in the best form of late, finishing outside the top five on every occasion but one in the last five races he has run in.

Interesting outsider, priced at around 50/1 who could go better than he did last year, if continuing from last run.

Noel Meade’s nine-year-old Lieutenant Command won on his latest outing, claiming success in 2m 5f Leopardstown handicap, just under two lengths ahead of Mars Harper. Has otherwise struggled a bit when running in good company and pulled up last time he went over three miles at Gowran Park in January.

Hasn’t been consistent over his career and is up six lbs in a much more competitive race and unclear whether he stays the trip. Probably too many risks to be confident about backing him.

Course and distance winner in December in Porterstown Handicap but struggled since, finishing tenth of 18 in Gowran Park handicap before pulling up at the Cheltenham festival in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase.

Sixth of 13 last time out in Downpatrick handicap earlier this month and recent form makes nine-year-old Gordon Elliott gelding hard to fancy here.

Eight-year-old Noel Meade gelding who won Punchestown handicap back in November over 2m 6f, beating Take All by just under two lengths before a poor run of form. Eighth and 13th on his last two runs over this course before unseating at Naas last time out.

Steps up to 3m 5f here and has his blinkers removed here after the last two disappointments. One to dismiss unless having the headgear removed has a huge impact.

Willie Mullins sends 141-rated chaser Dolcita here to the Irish Grand National after finishing seventh in the Mares’ Chase on the last day of the Cheltenham festival last month. Had previously not been out of the top three on all but one of her runs over fences in good company as well.

Makes her handicap debut here and upped in trip by a fair bit. Unsure if she will stay the trip but one that shouldn’t be dismissed being from a top yard and she has been in decent form for a year or so.

Gordon Elliott sends eight-year-old Fakiera to the Irish Grand National, with the gelding having not won over fences in his career. He has been pulled up on his last two races, in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham festival last month after making numerous mistakes and in Downpatrick handicap eight days ago.

Difficult ask for the eight-year-old, who goes off 132 here.

Useful chaser who went on a good run of finishing in the top four five times in a row throughout 2021/22 before being unable to finish on the last two occasions, unseating his rider here over 2m 5f and pulling up at Down Royal last time out over 3m 2f.

Has had a couple of good efforts over this C&D in the last year or so but this is much tougher and will have to find plenty more to challenge here.

Eight-year-old mare who has progressed over fences with each run, with most impressive run coming in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase over 3m 2f, fending off 7/2fav Stumptown by a neck to claim victory at the Cheltenham festival for the first time.

She should stay the extra three furlongs, after showing good determination to win Kim Muir and looks well weighted to run well here. An each-way bet with a big chance of winning this contest should be high up on punters lists.

Eric McNamara’s second horse in the Irish Grand National is Donkey Years, a nine-year-old gelding who hasn’t completed a race on his last two runs at Leopardstown and Gowran Park, unseating his rider and pulling up on those two occasions. Did win Punchestown handicap in April last year but hasn’t been consistent since.

Difficult runner to back on the back of his last two runs and unclear whether the extra furlongs will suit him.

Winner of a Punchestown handicap last May but has run basically no race since, falling twice at Galway and Listowel before last of five in Webster Cup Chase over 2m 4f last month at Navan. He’s a bit prone to mistakes over the fences too.

Plenty to prove travelling up massively in trip and probably one to dismiss.

Seven-year-old trained by Noel Meade who is unbeaten over fences this season when finishing races, with the most recent success coming in grade three 3m chase at Limerick last month, beating Grandero Bello by two and a half lengths.

Fell on previous outing here in December in the Drinmore but beat Ramilies, who was demoted to second to claim 3m chase win at Naas prior to Limerick success. Looks a good shout here if staying the longer trip but many are in the mix.

Well handicapped eight-year-old who finished third in Grade Three Bobbyjo Chase over 3m 1f here in February, behind Vanillier and Willie Mullins’ Kemboy. That was his first foray into graded company after finishing sixth in Leopardstown handicap won by The Goffer earlier that month.

He wasn’t far away from Kemboy 44 days ago and is weighted nicely to go well in this contest. Each-way claims.

Gordon Elliott sends Gevrey here to the Irish Grand National after finishing fourth in the Plate Handicap at the Cheltenham festival last month, finishing a few lengths behind 20/1 winner Seddon. That was one of his best runs over fences (priced at 125/1) in good company and has won over fences three times in his career at Fairyhouse (twice) and Limerick.

Upped about a mile in trip and it remains to be seen whether that will suit him and this is tougher.

Francis Casey gelding who finished seventh in this contest last year, when priced at 10/1, with 40/1 shot Lord Lariat claiming victory. Has since won once at Killarney last May over 2m 7f but has struggled somewhat since, pulling up twice and even being tried over hurdles again last time out in Leopardstown handicap (finishing 13th of 17).

Did ok in this last year and now goes off two lbs lower but would be surprised to see him win this.

Six-year-old 149-rated chaser for Joseph O’Brien who was fourth in Webster Cup Chase last month at Navan after finishing fifth in Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November, behind the likes of two-time Cheltenham festival winner Corach Rambler and Dan Skelton’s Le Milos.

Steps up in trip massively after running over 2m 4f last time out but shouldn’t be dismissed, as he comes from a good yard and possesses ability over fences.

Gordon Elliott sends Chemical Energy to the Irish Grand National after running well to finish second of ten in National Hunt Chase over 3m 5f to Gaillard Du Mesnil, which was possibly his best career run in that sort of company. Struggled in Grade Three Naas Chase in January to finish fourth but won class two novice at Cheltenham prior over 3m in October last year, beating Mahler Mission by a whopping 61 lengths.

Makes handicap chasing debut here and Elliott’s seven-year-old could run a big race in the hands of Keith Donoghue.

Paul Townend rides I Am Maximus for the Irish Grand National for leading Irish trainer Willie Mullins after finishing fourth in the Brown Advisory Chase at Cheltenham last month with Danny Mullins on board. Is yet to win over fences for Mullins but was useful over hurdles for Nicky Henderson. Hasn’t produced any type of winning form to suggest he can win this.

Goes off 149 on handicap debut and needs to prove stamina over 3m 5f and others may be more likely to score than the seven-year-old.

Improving gelding over fences but is yet to run at a trip over 2m 4f, with his career wins coming over 2m to 2m 4f at the likes of Perth and Navan. Fourth in the Galway Plate in July last year before second of five in grade three novice at Tipperary in October behind 5/6fav Authorized Art.

Off 171 days since finishing second in Cheltenham novice behind Straw Fan Jack at 2/1fav but that came over 1m 7f so steps up significantly here. Doubts over his stamina make him harder to back.

Panda Boy has raced five times over fences, following seven hurdling runs. Debuted over fences at Punchestown in May last year, winning over 3m by nine lengths to Caesar Rock before fourth on graded debut at Cork to El Barra. Decent third of 28 in Leopardstown Paddy Power Chase in December before falling at the fifth in Leopardstown handicap last month.

Looks set to stay this longer trip and the 140-rated gelding may improve again to run well in this year’s Irish Grand National.

Seven-year-old 133-rated chaser who recorded back to back victories in December and January at Punchestown over 2m 7f and Fairyhouse novice over 2m 5f, 13 lengths ahead of Wellington Hill in second. Fourth on both his last two runs since, in a grade two novice at Navan in February before fourth of 12 in another novice at the same course last month.

Will need a career best to secure victory here or even make the places. Unclear whether he’ll stay the trip also.

Exciting Gordon Elliott gelding who has done well over fences, winning two out of six over the larger obstacles since being sent chasing. Landed Thurles beginner in November before finishing first in 23-runner field at Leopardstown over 2m 5f a couple of runs ago.

Good fourth last time out in 3m 1f Ultima Handicap at Cheltenham last month won by Corach Rambler, who heads for the British Grand National next week, proving ability to stay the longer trips. No reason why he can’t run well again.

Gavin Cromwell’s six-year-old Stumptown arrives here on the back of finishing second in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last month, a neck to fellow runner here Angels Dawn. That followed a couple of good wins for the gelding at Thurles in January before winning class three handicap at Sandown a month later over 3m.

Is improving and progressing with each run and further improvement is expected here and the gelding should go well again.

Good chasing prospect for Henry De Bromhead who won on chase debut here back in October last year, fending off seven rivals to land 2m 5f beginners chase. Stepped into graded company next time out at Punchestown, finishing third, before unseating Rachael Blackmore in grade one chase at Leopardstown in December.

Third of five in Naas novice three months ago and arrives here retaining the potential he showed on debut. Interesting runner who is worth at least an each-way bet at around 16’s in the market.

Willie Mullins sends Tenzing to the Irish Grand National after finishing fourth last time out in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham festival last month, behind a few good runners in the form of Mister Coffey, Chemical Energy and Gaillard Du Mesnil. Has put up some good form since returning over fences after a few bumper runs finishing in the top four on every occasion, including here in November.

This trip shouldn’t be an issue for the six-year-old and Sean O’Keeffe is on board. One to respect after decent Cheltenham run.