Horse by horse guide to the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse
By Donn McClean
17:10 · SUN April 04, 2021
Donn McClean leaves no stone unturned as he runs the rule over every single horse in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National, settling on Jack Kennedy s mount, Run Wild Fred.
BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase (Grade A)
When: 5.00pm, Easter Monday
Odds:
Latest Exhibition (Trainer: Paul Nolan – Jockey: Bryan Cooper)
A top class novice who also had Sunday’s Grade 1 two-and-a-half-mile novices’ chase as an option, he was a Grade 1 winner last season as a novice hurdler, and he has finished second to Monkfish in Grade 1 chases twice this season. The defection of Tiger Roll and the resultant raising of the weights was not ideal, but he is a top class individual who could still run a big race under his big weight, and it is interesting that his trainer is fitting cheekpieces for the first time.
Cheltenham Festival: Donn McClean with five Irish handicappers to follow
By Donn McClean
21:45 · MON March 15, 2021
The leading pundit completes his build-up to Cheltenham with five Irish horses expected to outrun their prices in handicaps this week.
You Raised Me Up (Martin Brassil)
You Raised Me Up didn’t run at Cheltenham last year. Third in the Ladbrokes Hurdle at the 2020 Dublin Racing Festival, he was an 11th-hour withdrawal from the County Hurdle, a race that was run on ground that would have been softer than ideal for him.
Martin Brassil’s horse was impressive in winning his maiden hurdle at Listowel in September and, given a nice break after that, he returned to win a good novices’ hurdle at Naas last month. He quickened up nicely that day, and he kept on well to get the better of two talented novices in Petibonome and Feelgood Island.
Peter Scudamore Special Christmas Q&A freebets.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from freebets.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Leader Newspaper
By Andrew Atkinson
Champion Hurdler Epatante – winner of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November – is set to run in the Ladbrokes Hurdle (Grade 1) on Boxing Day.
“She is all set to go – this was always the route we’ve intended to take,” said trainer Nicky Henderson.
“Touch wood, things are going well with her and we’ve had a good preparation,” said Henderson.
“She has had her medical check and everything is fine. We’re following the same route as last year. If all goes well on Saturday then she won’t run again before Cheltenham in March,” added Henderson.