Irish Grand National 2015

[Old Vic]

Last bit from Donn - similar approach to race as Segal.

[loveracing]

I have a strong fancy for The Job is Right, missed the 20's with the High St but managed to back the win at 20 on Betfair and 4.5 place.
Two others who could go well at big prices, Rogue Angel and Usuel Smurfer, if there's a race in the calendar where you shouldn't be afraid to back at big prices this is it.

I have backed him at 20's but I think he may come up short once again. He's had a tough campaign leading up to this and not sure if all those competeive races have taken a toll. Perfect Gentleman will most likely finish ahead of him this time round (hoping 1&2) but the 20's have also gone and half the price now, he will probably go off favourite. I wasn't greedy and took 16's nrnb last week.

[Morning Glory]

Had to add Empire of Dirt.

Main bet is Champagne James, with good upside on The Crafty Butcher and EoD.

Ill cover Alpha Victor and Daring article on Betfair.

Too many backed but like to have low weights on side in the IGN.

[mayo]

Pricewise nearly put up vics canvass - he was Barry Geraghtys tip in the race according to Nicky in RP

[mayo]

Reserves situation not ideal is it...two non runners and Skelton brings a horse from England.

[mayo]

Daring Article and She's got grit are amongst 5 that I can find that fulfill the recent trends criteria for this race so I'll take both of these each way, around 25/1 and 40/1

Poxy race for me but a least got a run for my money.

[loveracing]

I didn't like Ruby's ride on PG. On ATR he said the horse needs better ground, so in the race he puts the horse on the inside where the ground is most soft.

[mayo]

Plans can change

Katie Walsh

KATIE WALSH – 03 APRIL 2015 03:00 AM

Monday is obviously a big day in Irish racing as it's Irish Grand National day and with AP McCoy over to have his final rides in Ireland, there is sure to be even more hype surrounding the three-days.


The Irish Grand National is a race that has been very good to us in the past and with Champagne James set to run on Monday, I hope it's a race that will continue to be very good to us.

Of course, Commanche Court won the race for Dad in 2000, which was the same year as Papillon won the English National and Papillon himself ran a cracker in the Irish National in 1998 when he was second to Bobbyjo.

Jack High was also second in it when Ruby just got up to beat him on Numbersixvalverde for Martin Brassil so it's certainly a race we have plenty of fond memories of.

Champagne James has appeared to come out of his run at Cheltenham very well and while Cheltenham is Cheltenham and is the biggest meeting of the year, you have to be a very sharp-acting horse to go around there and I'd say Champagne James just wants more of a galloping track which he'll certainly get on Monday.

I don't think we are due much rain over the weekend but there is heavy in the description at the moment and the 3m5f is going to take a lot of getting. I'd be hopeful that the trip and the ground will suit Champagne James.

WIDE OPEN

It certainly is a wide open renewal and anyone involved in the race can look forward to a very competitive event. You can make cases for so many. One thing I would question on Monday though is whether a horse will be able to buck out and be handy on that ground and over the trip. If something does he'll be a very good horse.

In the last number of years, the Irish National has been a happy hunting ground for novices and the likes of The Job is Right, Dogora, Perfect Gentleman and Champagne James are just a few that come under that banner.

So if I was having a bet in the race and was unsure of what to back, I'd be siding with a novice who will handle the ground.

I won't be in Fairyhouse on Easter Monday as I'm going to Cork instead to ride Call It Magic for Ross and I wouldn't like to be the person standing beside me if Champagne James is jumping the last in contention!

Call It Magic is a lovely horse who has done well since winning his point-to-point and a bumper wasn't the first choice with him but it seemed pointless to break his novice status so late in the year so hopefully he can repeat what he did in his point-to-point and get the job done on Monday.

I'll be in Fairyhouse on Sunday to ride in the bumper and after Cork on Monday all road will be leading to Aintree.

I think the track will suit him better than Cheltenham.

[Yeehaa]

Plans can change

Put us away worse than Ruby there

She is better than most of the boys in fairness.

[MrMcGoldrick]

They're all poor races if you don't get a run, but to have two go down at the first is a sickener, I don't put much on these because they are a poor betting proposition, but as a national hunt fan you just feel you want an interest. Not sure if this is worse or getting caught on the run in, one place out of the ew frame is a pain too.

[Istabraq]

They're all poor races if you don't get a run, but to have two go down at the first is a sickener,

Very very unfortunate that, I had both mine on the floor with over a circuit to go so fared no better !
Incredibly there were 6 fallers in the race, all at the first !