The Irish racing broadcaster examines the massive race at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday and picks out a single fancy from the sphere of 30.
The deluge of rain in latest days has fully modified the image for this yr’s Irish Grand Nationwide, with a number of horses swiftly trying main gamers now that circumstances have turned so markedly of their favour.
Gavin Cromwell’s duo Now Is The Hour and Bioluminescence – who was apparently an unlikely runner this time final week – are a pair specifically who will relish the testing floor and should come firmly into calculations however high of my shortlist is one other mud-lover in JOHNNYWHO.
This lightly-raced eight year-old might be bidding to present coach Jonjo O’Neill – who operates in partnership with son AJ nowadays – a 3rd win within the Easter Monday showpiece and is on a retrieval mission right here after an agonising defeat in Cheltenham’s Kim Muir Chase final month.
A well-supported 9/2 favorite there, Johnnywho moved for the overwhelming majority of the 3m2f journey like a horse nicely forward of his handicap mark and approaching the ultimate fence it appeared his race to lose. Nevertheless having been steadied into the impediment he stumbled barely on the touchdown facet and was finally unable to overtake the doughty Every day Current, who reopposes right here on comparable phrases. Derek O’Connor will know in addition to anybody that it was one which received away however the high newbie now has a terrific alternative to banish that reminiscence by capturing probably the most beneficial jumps race within the Irish calendar.
Right now’s further three furlongs shouldn’t be an issue for this stoutly-bred performer – his dam Howaya Pet really completed a superb fourth to Numbersixvalverde within the 2005 version and rounded off her profession by scoring over 4 miles on the following yr’s Punchestown Pageant – and whereas a 6lb rise makes life harder the listing of positives far outweighs that detrimental.
A sometimes robust hand for proprietor JP McManus additionally consists of the veteran Any Second Now, who went so shut twelve months in the past and warmed up for this with an attention-grabbing fifth at Naas, whereas Nationwide Hunt Chase hero Haiti Couleurs additionally deserves respect in a extremely aggressive renewal.