Irish Grand National preview: Come up smelling of Roses

The absence of Footpad – who will now divert to Aintree – from Sunday’s Ryanair Gold Cup Novices’ Chase means that the two and a half mile race has lost much of its lustre, despite the possibility that Shattered Love and Petit Mouchoir will lock horns. Though the five-day entries are dominated by Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, it’s worth remembering that last year’s renewal was won by Road To Respect, trained by Noel Meade. The veteran handler could saddle Flogas fifth Snow Falcon in this year’s renewal.

Interestingly, Snow Falcon is also entered in Monday’s Irish Grand National over more than a mile further, though his position in the betting perhaps indicates his chance. Instead, the market is topped by Pairofbrowneyes and Bellshill, both trained by Willie Mullins.

Mullins on a mission

The Closutton handler still has some way to go before he matches Tom Dreaper’s 10 wins in the race – 10, to be precise – as this is the one big contest missing from Mullins’ CV.

Pairofbrowneyes was strong in the betting ahead of the Leinster National at Gowran, and proved better than ever when resuming winning ways on his first outing since leaving Barry John Murphy. He’s 9 lb higher here but is unexposed as a staying chaser and – at number 28 on the list - is guaranteed a place in the field.

Bellshill finished third behind Might Bite and Whisper in last season’s RSA at Cheltenham and ran out a smooth winner on his belated return to action here in February, looking every-inch the high-class prospect he promised to be when beating A Genie In Abottle by four and three quarter lengths. This will prove an altogether different test to what he’s encountered to date, but there’s clearly still an element of untapped potential about him in this sphere.

A nice performance from Bellshill who takes the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase in good style at @Fairyhouse and brings up a third consecutive win in the race for Willie Mullins: pic.twitter.com/TX9jAyuIcK

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 24, 2018

Overall, Mullins has 14 entries in the race, with honourable mentions also going to Isleofhopendreams, who returned to form when second at Punchestown last time, and Rathvinden, though the latter had a very hard race when winning the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.

Elliott army at the ready

Though he’s thrown less darts, another trainer who is yet to win the race is Gordon Elliott. He’s come armed with a quiver-full this year, with Folsom Blue leading 27 entries for the yard. He was only fourth in this race from an 8 lb lower mark in 2016, but looked as good as ever when winning a 19-runner handicap at Punchestown last time (by one and a half lengths from Isleofhopendreams). He had shown signs of temperament for Mouse Morris but has done nothing wrong for his current yard.

Progressive novice Monbeg Notorious won the Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran (by 11 lengths from Wounded Warrior) in January and completed his hat-trick in a four-runner renewal of the Ten Up Novices' Chase at Navan last time by half a length from Mossback, despite idling. He is open to even more improvement as a chaser and commands plenty of respect as a result.

Other leading contenders trained by Elliott include Out Sam, who looked unlucky not to finish closer having been hampered by a loose horse when third in the Ulster National last time, and Bless The Wings, who fell in the Cross Country last time but has twice been a runner-up in this race, including off this same mark 12 months ago.

Cheltenham form to be tested?

Though he won this race in a canter last season, it would appear unlikely that Our Duke will return to defend his crown after such a lacklustre display of jumping in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and third home Anibale Fly is set for Aintree rather than Fairyhouse. Gold Cup also-rans Edwulf and Outlander are also unlikely to turn up, so of more interest might be Jury Duty who unseated in the National Hunt Chase when beaten, but would be suited by any drying of the ground.

Kim Muir second and third, Mall Dini and Squouateur, both ran well behind Missed Approach at Cheltenham, but neither was particularly convincing with the veracity of their finishing effort, and instead a chance is taken on two at bigger prices.

Gigginstown contenders

With plenty of the entries at the top of the weights probably unlikely to turn up, it’s worth taking a chance on a couple of runners further down the list who need a few to come out. Topping that list is Thunder And Roses, who is trained by Mouse Morris, responsible for two winners in the last decade (2008 Hear The Echo, 2016 Rogue Angel).

Thunder And Roses won this race for Sandra Hughes in 2015 and though he has not won since, his mark of 140 is only 4 lb higher than that day, and some 6 lb lower than when a very encouraging fourth in last year’s renewal. He’s not the easiest of rides, but confirmed his return to form when fourth in the Thyestes and he was in the process of running well when falling in the Leinster National last time; he’s worth chancing at a general 33/1.

The previously mentioned A Genie In Abottle has a 7 lb swing in the weights with Bellshill, but is available at 33/1 and that looks too big. A course winner as a novice last term, the Noel Meade-trained gelding won at Galway and Wexford (by one and a half lengths from subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Tiger Roll) in October.

A Genie In Abottle was a long way below form in both the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury and Thyestes Chase at Gowran, but bounced back to something akin to his very best last time. His profile suggests that he might prefer smaller fields, but he looks to have all of the other attributes needed to run well in a race like this, and his Grand National entry suggests connections don’t have any concerns about the hustle and bustle of big-field handicaps.

Recommended bets:

Back A Genie In Abottle in Monday’s Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse at 33/1

Back Thunder And Roses in Monday’s Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse at 33/1