Tag Archive for: Irish Grand National

Val Dancer needs plenty of rain to be seen again this season

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Late April and even May showers will be needed if Val Dancer is to run again this term following his scuppered Irish Grand National bid.

The eight-year-old won the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow shortly after Christmas and as a fan of soft ground, connections were on weather watch with regards to his trip to Fairyhouse.

The eventual rainfall was so significant that the first day of the meeting was cancelled and eventually rescheduled, but it was not the weather that stood in Val Dancer’s way in the end.

At the declaration stage, Mel Rowley’s gelding was balloted out, meaning a swift U-turn of the lorry ahead of the ferry crossing and a return to the drawing board for connections.

Ireland remains under consideration as there is a race at Punchestown that may be suitable, but again soft ground will be required if he is to run.

“He was on his way, he got as far as Rhyl and then he got balloted out, so sadly he didn’t make the trip,” Rowley explained.

“We were gutted, absolutely gutted. He’s very well and ready to run, it’s just a case of finding somewhere before everything winds down for the summer.

“He needs the sort of ground they had in Ireland, it’s such a shame he got balloted out at declarations and then that was the end of that.

“There is a chance, depending on the ground, that he could go to Punchestown for a handicap (on Saturday), but that would require a lot of rain.

“It would be really nice for him to run again before the end of the season, but at the end of the day, if he doesn’t, he has still surpassed all of our expectations for the year and we’ve got a really nice horse for next season.

“Hopefully there’ll be a downpour somewhere, we’ll keep our fingers crossed!”

Haiti Couleurs primed for Irish National service

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Cheltenham Festival hero Haiti Couleurs goes in search of another big-race victory in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

The eight-year-old was an emphatic winner of the National Hunt Chase at Prestbury Park last month, providing his trainer Rebecca Curtis with a fifth Festival success.

The Welsh handler has sent a team of six horses across the Irish Sea to run across the three days of Fairyhouse’s Easter Festival and is hopeful her stable star can become the first British-trained winner of the €500,000 since Jonjo O’Neill’s Shutthefrontdoor struck gold 11 years ago.

“He seems in really good form, healthy and well,” said Curtis.

“We’re very excited to be bringing him over to Ireland. I couldn’t be happier with the horse. It was great to win at Cheltenham and he came out of that really well.

“He had a nice easy couple of weeks after and he’s been back in full swing for the last month. So, it’s all systems go.”

Jonjo O’Neill has two Irish Grand National wins on his training CV, having also claimed top honours with Butler’s Cabin in 2007. Now in partnership with his son AJ, the trainer goes in search of the hat-trick with Johnnywho, was was narrowly denied a Cheltenham Festival win in the Kim Muir.

AJ O’Neill has high hopes for Johnnywho
AJ O’Neill has high hopes for Johnnywho (Joe Giddens/PA)

AJ O’Neill said: “He ran a lovely race at Cheltenham really and I suppose it seems the natural progression to go to Fairyhouse. He’s in good form, we’re looking forward to seeing him back on track and hopefully he can go one better.

“It’s very competitive, but hopefully we’re good enough on the day. It’s a great race and it’s great to have a runner who has shown good form on the way up.”

The home challenge features many of the usual suspects in terms of trainers, with Willie Mullins, Gavin Cromwell and Gordon Elliott all saddling multiple runners, while Paul Nolan fields the horse who beat Johnnywho by a neck in the Kim Muir, Daily Present.

He said: “He’s in very good form, everything has has gone well with him and we’re hoping he’ll run a respectable race.

“He really stayed at Cheltenham, he’s definitely a stayer and he got a very good ride.

“We’re just hoping he can operate again, he’s gone up a good chunk in the weights but it’d be great if he could still be competitive.”

Willie Mullins has saddled two previous Irish Grand National winners in Burrows Saint (2019) and I Am Maximus and is this year represented by two novices in Quai De Bourbon and Sa Majeste.

Quai De Bourbon (white cap) in action at Gowran Park
Quai De Bourbon (white cap) in action at Gowran Park (Brian Lawless/PA)

Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: “Quai De Bourbon has been unlucky in Cheltenham (unseated) and Aintree (brought down), but perhaps that will be the silver lining on two clouds as he comes into Fairyhouse without having had hard races.

“Obviously, his jumping will have to stand up, but I thought he jumped well in Aintree in the main.

“Sa Majeste gets in with a nice racing weight (10st 12lb). He ran very well in Cheltenham (third in Kim Muir) and nicer ground might bring more improvement in him.”

Welsh raider Haiti Couleurs heads Irish National betting

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Rebecca Curtis’ Cheltenham Festival winner Haiti Couleurs is clear favourite with the sponsors after a maximum field of 30 were declared for Monday’s Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

The eight-year-old has won three of his four outings over fences, with the novice firing Curtis back into the big time in the National Hunt Chase.

With his stamina assured and a win on heavy ground on his record, there are a lot of positives as he tries to take the prize back to Wales and he has been installed as the 5-1 market leader.

He is one of only three runners from the UK, with Jonjo and A J O’Neill providing the other two.

Johnnywho looked sure to justify favouritism in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham before a mistake at the last and Hasthing, who would have been placed behind Haiti Couleurs at the Festival but for falling at the final fence, was brought down early on in the Scottish National last week.

Heading the weights is Gordon Elliott’s Better Days Ahead, who has been largely campaigning in Grade One company this season.

Elliott also runs Duffle Coat, Favori De Champdou, Search For Glory, Shecouldbeanything, Stuzzikini and Tullybeg.

Gavin Cromwell is also set to be represented by seven hopefuls. Bioluminescence, Malina Girl, Yeah Man, Now Is The Hour, Mint Boy, Final Orders and last-in Noble Birth will bid to give him a first win in the race.

Willie Mullins runs just Quai De Bourbon and Sa Majeste.

Ted Walsh’s veteran Any Second Now runs and the trainer told Boylesports: “He’s in great nick and I think he’ll run a big race. He’s as good as he was this time last year, he doesn’t know he’s 13.

“He’s been trained with the race in mind and he had nice runs at Fairyhouse and Naas the last time. Mark Walsh has looked after him well and he’s going to ride him again. He could have ridden a couple of others, so he must think he has a squeak.

“If he runs well, I’d be delighted, if he wins, I’ll be over the moon. It’s a great race and it would be lovely to have another winner at this stage.”

Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for the sponsors, added: “The betting for the Boylesports Irish Grand National is as temperamental as the weather at the moment and while Haiti Couleurs looks set to head to post as favourite, plenty of mudlarks are seeing strong support.

“The McManus owned-duo Bioluminescence and Any Second Now are chief among them and what a fairytale it would be if the latter got his head in front at the age of 13!”

Irish National aim for National Hunt hero Haiti Couleurs

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Haiti Couleurs has the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on April 21 as an end-of-season target.

Trained by Rebecca Curtis, the eight-year-old was a comfortable winner of the new version of the National Hunt Chase, which is now run as a novices’ handicap with professionals permitted to ride.

Sent off the 7-2 joint-favourite and partnered by Ben Jones, Haiti Couleurs never looked in danger all the way round, jumping with aplomb and powering up the hill to win by four and a half lengths.

“He’s come out of the race really well, probably the best he ever has to be fair,” said Curtis, who was back on the Festival scoresheet for the first time since Lisnagar Oscar’s Stayers’ Hurdle win in 2020.

Ben Jones soaks up the applause as Rebecca Curtis (left) follows him in
Ben Jones soaks up the applause as Rebecca Curtis (left) follows him in (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We’re having a really good think about running him in the Irish National now, I think it will really suit him. He goes on good ground, he stays well and it is a race novices have a good record in – it also suits timing-wise after Cheltenham. I also think it will be a bit of fun for the owners as well!

“I said after the race it was almost like watching him in slow motion, he always looked comfortable, so I was delighted.

“It is not often you have a plan in this game and everything works out perfectly, but his season has.

“It was tempting at Christmas time to see if we went to the next level with him and find out if he’s a graded horse, but I’m glad we stuck to our guns and went the route we did because obviously it paid off in the end.”

Aintree could be on the agenda next season although given the standard needed there in recent years Curtis is in no rush to commit just yet.

She added: “He’s likely to be mid 140s now. I don’t know about next year yet, even if we try him in a graded race, the way the National is going, you need to be a graded horse to stand a chance anyway, so I don’t think it’s a case of either or. We’ll see how his next race goes and take it from there, I guess.

“The Gold Cup winner is this year’s favourite and I think the first four last year were all graded horses, so it’s not easy.”

Conflicting feelings for Walsh after Any Second Now defeat

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Ted Walsh admitted to having mixed emotions after his stable stalwart Any Second Now roared back to form to fill the runner-up spot in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

It is five years since the JP McManus-owned veteran claimed Cheltenham Festival glory in the Kim Muir and he was a leading contender for that season’s Irish National when falling at the eighth fence.

As well as winning twice at Grade Two and Grade Three level, Any Second Now has since placed twice in the Grand National at Aintree, finishing third behind the Rachael Blackmore-ridden Minella Times on his first attempt in 2021 before picking up the silver medal behind Noble Yeats 12 months later.

Ted Walsh has done an excellent job with Any Second Now
Ted Walsh has done an excellent job with Any Second Now (Brian Lawless/PA)

The 12-year-old was pulled up when bidding to make it third time lucky on Merseyside last April and has largely struggled since, but showed his true colours when finishing best of the rest behind the six years younger Intense Raffles on Easter Monday, leaving his trainer delighted but disappointed.

Walsh said: “He’s come out of the race 100 per cent, I’m delighted with the way he ran but gutted that he got beat!

“We have no plans at the moment, Punchestown is only a month away and he won’t be going there. He’ll go to Martinstown (McManus’ stud), we’ll have a look at him and see what happens after that.

“I’m proud of how he ran, but at the same time we were beaten. We played a great game but the other team won!”

Rockett-powered Mullins contender has Irish handicapper ‘shaking in his boots’

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Having dominated the Cheltenham Festival, Willie Mullins has set his sights on the Boylesports Irish Grand National on April 1 – with unexposed novice Nick Rockett likely to be all the rage.

The champion trainer is seeking a third win overall in the richest jumps’ race run in Ireland and back-to-back victories after the unlikely success of I Am Maximus 12 months ago.

Nick Rockett has been allotted 10st 13lb in the weights by handicapper Sandy Shaw, with Gordon Elliott’s Galway Plate winner Ash Tree Meadow top of the pile.

Three Cheltenham Festival victors are towards the top in Corbetts Cross (11st 10lb), Inothewayurthinkin (11st 9lb) and Limerick Lace (11st 7lb), but having kept his powder dry, Mullins might just have the ideal candidate.

“Nick Rockett has performed well around Fairyhouse and I love horses for courses,” said Mullins.

“Paul (Townend) was very happy the last day he won around the course and we thought instead of going to Cheltenham that we should maybe aim for Fairyhouse. That’s what we have been doing and we are very happy with how he is.

“He jumps, has won over the track, is a novice coming up the ranks, has a nice weight and Paul is very happy to ride him. That is more than enough and he ticks all the right boxes, I think.

“We have to get him there in the right order and at the moment I am very happy with him.”

Regarding his other entries, Mullins said: “This race comes into play for Stattler now, if he’d run at Cheltenham (Cross Country Chase was abandoned) he would maybe have gone to Aintree, but he’s now in the running to run here.

Minella Cocooner could join Nick Rockett in the Irish National
Minella Cocooner could join Nick Rockett in the Irish National (PA Wire)

“Monkfish was disappointing at Cheltenham so wouldn’t come here, Mr Incredible only ran the other day so it’s too close, the same with Adamantly Chosen. Embassy Gardens and James Du Berlais the same.

“Bronn was disappointing in Naas, but if I could get him back right he could go there. Minella Cocooner has run well there, has the credentials, stays all day and has a nice weight as well.

“Ontheropes is 36 (on the ballot) but I think he is more or less in and is our other likely runner.

“It took us a long time to win it. My father had won it four times so it was an itch that needed scratching and then winning it with Burrows Saint for Rich Ricci and with Ruby Walsh, that capped it.

“It gave me as much pleasure as winning any race.”

For Shaw, Mullins’ comments have him “shaking in his boots”.

“An awful lot handicap themselves and it is obviously the novices that we look to as they are the ones that have more improvement in them,” he said.

“The three Cheltenham winners are in but we can reassess them, the difference is that Willie’s Nick Rockett didn’t go – he has me shaking in my boots the way he’s talking!

“He’s been held back and it was certainly the right thing to do, I think. Novices are always hard to rate because you have to rate them on what they have done, not on what we think they might do so there is a chance Nick Rockett could be well handicapped.

“The only thing is he has only run seven times in his life. He’s unexposed as a result, but it will be a question of if he can handle the hurly burly of the race. Other than that he does look the one. He could have a few pounds up his sleeve, we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Max powers home for Mullins and Townend in Irish National

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I Am Maximus lunged late to claim victory in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

The seven-year-old was an 8-1 chance in the three-mile-five-furlong feature for the all-conquering Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

Ridden patiently in among the field of 27, the JP McManus-owned gelding looked set to finish out of the placings – but came to the fore as contenders dropped away and he was ridden to get into contention over the penultimate fence.

Over the last he jumped his way into third place and then battled past long-time leader Defi Bleu and Gevrey to prevail by a length.

Townend said: “It was looking unlikely for a long way. I just tried to get him back popping.

“He was too slow jumping down the inside. I wanted to keep horses outside of me but it cut me out of the race so I had to let him go left and bank on one at the last.

“You never write off one of Willie’s, but it was certainly a lot harder work than it normally is riding for him!

“This is a very special race. It’s huge to win this. You need so much luck. I finished second here a few years back (on Away We Go in 2013) and my record besides that wasn’t great.

“I thought Gaillard Du Mesnil was my best chance in it last year and he ran well to finish third. I’m very fortunate that this lad popped up and that it worked out in the end.”

David Casey, assistant to to Mullins, added: “It was absolutely unbelievable. I don’t have the words, I thought it was absolutely brilliant.

“We know how good a rider Paul is anyway, I didn’t think he could better Galopin Des Champs from Cheltenham but I thought that was amazing.

“He wasn’t travelling, he didn’t seem to be enjoying it down the inside in the crowd. Paul just kept persevering, kept galvanising and kept saving and kept him jumping.

“He has his quirks and I thought it was an unbelievable ride.

“He does idle a little bit when he gets to the front and he does jump a little bit left. Paul was brilliant and the horse obviously had the ability to go and do it as well.”

Conditions crucial to Thedevilscoachman’s Irish National claims

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Noel Meade feels soft ground is key to the chances of ante-post favourite Thedevilscoachman in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old has won three of his six starts over fences to date, supplementing four victories from six outings over hurdles.

His only defeat in four chase appearances so far this season came in December’s Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse when falling at the final fence, since when he has registered back-to-back Grade Three victories at Naas and Limerick.

He carries a 2lb penalty for the latter success a fortnight ago and Meade is hopeful he can make his presence felt if conditions are suitable and he can overcome a perceived lack of experience.

“Everything is good at the moment, we’re just hoping the ground doesn’t dry up too much,” he said.

“Everything has gone good since he won in Limerick. He’s still only a novice and he has to overcome that. He hasn’t had that many runs over fences, but we’re hopeful.

“He certainly stays three miles well. You don’t really know about three-mile-five until you have a go so we’ll see, but hopefully he will stay.”

Thedevilscoachman is one of three runners for Meade, who won the 2002 Irish Grand National with The Bunny Boiler.

Lieutenant Command and Farceur Du Large are both outsiders for Gigginstown House Stud, but Meade believes it would be dangerous to dismiss them, adding: “They’re definitely not out of it.

Trainer Noel Meade will saddle three runners in the Irish Grand National
Trainer Noel Meade will saddle three runners in the Irish Grand National (Niall Carson/PA)

“Lieutenant Command wants good ground and the better the ground, the better the chance he’ll have. Again the trip is a bit of an unknown with him, but he’s a fine horse and if we get good ground he’ll certainly give a good account of himself.

“Farceur Du Large was running a good race in the Paddy Power Chase in Leopardstown over Christmas and then made a mistake which put him out of it.

“He unshipped Bryan (Cooper) at the first the last day and it’s hard to get that of your head, but he’s still a horse who could run well if things go his way.”

Sam Curling’s Angels Dawn and the Gavin Cromwell-trained Stumptown renew rivalry after being separated by only a neck when first and second in the Kim Muir at last month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Angels Dawn leads Stumptown at the final fence at Cheltenham
Angels Dawn leads Stumptown at the final fence at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)

Curling said: “She came out of Cheltenham well and we’ve been happy with her since, so all is good.

“They’re giving a bit of rain tonight, so you’d hope the ground will be soft and there’s plenty in our favour hopefully.

“For a small yard like ours, it’s great to have a runner in an Irish Grand National with a chance and we’re looking forward to it.”

The powerhouse stables of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are well represented, with Mullins saddling I Am Maximus, Tenzing and Dolcita, while Chemical Energy and The Goffer are two of eight for Elliott.

I Am Maximus finished fourth in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham and he was subsequently bought by JP McManus, whose racing manager Frank Berry said: “He ran well at Cheltenham. He’s still a maiden (over fences) but it’s a good race for novices and Willie is very happy with him. We’re hoping to see a good run in what is a very competitive race.”

Other leading hopes include Martin Brassil’s Panda Boy, Henry de Bromhead’s Amirite and Barry Connell’s Espanito Bello, while Joseph O’Brien has a couple of chances in Fire Attack and Busselton.

He said: “Fire Attack would love soft ground whereas Busselton is seen to best effect on slightly better ground, but he’s been a very consistent horse.

“Fire Attack has had a couple of falls. He’s actually a good jumper, but he’s made a couple of silly mistakes and fell in the Kerry National.

“He’s been a little bit unlucky, but he’s threatened to win a big race and I think he will when things fall his way.”

Irish National bid not ruled out for Lord Lariat

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Last year’s winner Lord Lariat and the veteran Captain Cj could represent Dermot McLoughlin in his bid for a remarkable third successive victory in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

Based less than five miles from the track, the County Meath handler saddled 150-1 shot Freewheelin Dylan to claim the traditional Easter Monday feature in 2021 and repeated the feat last spring as 40-1 chance Lord Lariat secured the lion’s share of the huge €500,000 prize fund.

McLoughlin’s father Liam claimed Irish Grand National glory as a jockey in 1962 when partnering Kerforo for legendary trainer Tom Dreaper, who won the race on a record 10 occasions including seven renewals on the spin in the 1960s, with chasing greats Arkle and Flyingbolt among the victors.

Dreaper’s son Jim won the staying prize four times in 1970s, with Brown Lad winning three – and speaking at the launch of this year’s renewal at his yard on Tuesday morning, McLoughlin junior admitted to have his name on the roll of honour is a dream come true.

Lord Lariat and Patrick O’Hanlon winning the Irish Grand National
Lord Lariat and Patrick O’Hanlon winning the Irish Grand National (Niall Carson/PA)

“I worked for Jim Dreaper for 15 years and there was plenty of good horses there going for the Irish National at the time,” he said.

“My father rode the winner of it and I remember a lot of people coming to talk to him about Arkle and Flyingbolt back in his day, so I got wrapped up in the Irish National and never forget being taken there from a very early age every Easter Monday.”

McLoughlin’s celebrations were relatively muted two years ago, with Irish racing taking place behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, but he was able to enjoy his 2022 success with his family and friends.

He added: “It was always an aim of mine just to have a runner in the race, let alone a winner. We’ve been blessed to have two winners and I got serious satisfaction out of both.

“Last year was great as we came home and there were plenty of neighbours and plenty of staff and it was great for everyone.”

Lord Lariat has run three times since last year’s triumph – finishing fourth behind Galvin in a Grade Three at Punchestown, sixth in the Porterstown Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse in December and seventh over hurdles at Leopardstown on Monday on his return from a three-month break.

A tilt at the Randox Grand National at Aintree on April 15 appears his more likely target this time around, but McLoughlin is not ruling out the possibility of him instead turning up at Fairyhouse earlier that week.

“At the moment, Lord Lariat is Aintree-bound. The lads that own him want to have one go at it, but that could change and I might swing him back to Fairyhouse,” said the trainer.

“I gave him a run on Monday and I thought he ran very well actually. That will hopefully leave him spot-on, although he might get another run or a racecourse gallop and school somewhere.

“We’re happy with the weight in the Irish Grand National (10st 4lb) and everything else, so we’ll see what happens.”

Dermot McLoughlin's string on the gallops
Dermot McLoughlin’s string on the gallops (Alan Magee/PA)

McLoughlin has two other entries in Captain Cj and The Echo Boy, but the latter has little prospect of making the cut at the very bottom of the weights.

Captain Cj, who was off the track for well over two years before finishing down the field over hurdles at Gowran Park last month, is also well down the order of entry – but does have the opportunity to pick up a penalty that would move him up the list if he can win this weekend’s Leinster National at Naas.

“I think the handicapper has been too generous with Captain Cj – he mightn’t get in now,” McLoughlin continued.

“He had leg trouble and missed a year and then we were ready to go again and he then got suspensory trouble. He’s a good horse, but unfortunately just ran into trouble.

“He’s getting on now and it’s not straightforward, but he’s sound at the moment and we’ll see how he runs on Sunday and go from there.”

McLoughlin admits taking on the likes of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott for top honours is a difficult task, but one he relishes rather than fears.

He said: “It’s like footballers or golfers – we all have to compete.

“I enjoy taking on the bigger lads. We’ve had well handicapped horses (for the Irish Grand National) in the last couple of years and things came right.

“Every day you go out you’re taking on Willie and Gordon and Henry (de Bromhead) and a few others, but we just have to compete at the level we can and when we hit the spring and the ground changes we seem to hit form, so long may it continue.

“It isn’t easy in any game – sport in general is tough.”

Conflated has been allotted top-weight for the Irish Grand National
Conflated has been allotted top-weight for the Irish Grand National (Niall Carson/PA)

With Irascible not qualified, a total of 83 horses are in Irish Grand National contention.

At the head of the weights on 11st 12lb is the 168-rated Conflated, who is first bound for next week’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

He is one of 19 entries for Gordon Elliott along with the likes of Galvin (11st 9lb), Fury Road (11st 5lb), Delta Work (10st 13lb) and Coko Beach (10st 11lb).

Gold Cup contender Stattler (11st 7lb) is the highest-rated of 14 Willie Mullins-trained possibles, while Venetia Williams’ Royale Pagaille (11st 4lb) and Dan Skelton’s Ashtown Lad (9st 13lb) are a couple of interesting potential challengers from Britain.

Ireland’s National Hunt handicapper, Sandy Shaw, said: “It’s a fantastic entry and high quality race. There’s 17 horses rated 150-plus and there’s multiple Grade One winners in it.

“The question none of us can answer at this stage is what is going to run. There’s a lot of horses at the top end that are in the Aintree National as well and it’s difficult to know what is going to be top-weight.”