IT SIMPLY WOULDN’T be Easter Monday without trying to crack the puzzle that is the 25-runner staying chase at Fairyhouse.
While the Irish version of the National is not quite as illustrious as the Aintree showpiece, it does have a storied history in its own right and has been won in the past by legends such as Desert Orchid. There is no horse of that calibre running today, but the race is fiercely competitive as a contest and betting heat.
The antepost favourite Beautiful Sound is in need of some luck to make the final cut; the second reserve faces a race against time needing two horses to withdraw before the early afternoon to get a run. If he does manage to get through, Gordon Elliot’s inmate will have a fine chance off a handy mark following his eye-catching running at the Cheltenham festival.
Other fancied horses include Dermot Weld’s Prince Erik. A fine stayer on the flat and relatively successful over hurdles, the horse is beginning to get his act together over the larger obstacles and if he continues his rate of improvement he should make his presence felt. He certainly possesses a touch of class – he finished sixth in an Irish Derby, but his win ratio is not what it should be and consistency is a problem with the gelding.
JP McManus is mob-handed as he continues his bid to win the owners title back form Michael O’Leary. The best fancied of his six runners is QuantitativeEasing, who travels over from Nicky Henderson’s stable. While he hasn’t quite achieved as much as his talent initially promised, his form this winter and spring has been excellent and is certainly one of the more progressive runners in the field. The main concern must be his age; the three-and-a-half-mile trip could be a bit much for a six-year-old to handle.
A New Story would bring the house down if he was to go close. The evergreen 13-year-old is running in the race for the sixth time and is far from a forlorn hope. He has placed on a few occasions, and conditions will suit him perfectly.
Nap of the Day
Clan Tara should run well at a decent price in the Irish Field Handicap Hurdle over two-and-three-quarter miles. His novice hurdle form was some of the best on offer at the time, and while his stint chasing didn’t quite work out his return to the smaller obstacles should see him return to the winners’ enclosure in due course.
His current mark is a stone below his best over fences, he handles the course, and his most recent run saw him run a promising fourth behind a rapidly improving horse. 8/1 is value.
Each-Way
The National is a very tricky but fun betting race. It would be a sin to watch it without some financial interest.
Western Charmer gives the impression that he’s crying out for a trip, and it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see him run into the first five. It may be that he needs softer ground to shine, but he’s well worth chancing at 22/1. He is a hard horse to gauge, and has struggled for consistency, but on his day he challenges for graded honours and certainly has the talent to go close.
