Racecourses from Plumpton to Redcar and various locations in between are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Bank Holiday racegoers on Monday. However, the undeniable highlight of the Easter weekend is the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse, which is the most lucrative race of the jumps season in the country and currently holds a prominent position in National Hunt racing.
It's rare for a primary race to be linked to a flexible celebration, with a position in the schedule that could vary from the end of March to the end of April. Occasionally, it is held shortly after the Cheltenham Festival; in other years, it takes place a week or more after the original Grand National at Aintree.
Given the circumstances, it may come as no surprise that no horse has managed to win both the big race at Fairyhouse and Aintree in the same season. However, the roll of honour for the Irish National includes some legendary horses, such as Arkle, who triumphed with an impressive 12 stone weight in 1964, and Desert Orchid, who achieved the same feat 26 years later despite a dreadful mistake at the last hurdle.
Over the past few years, the Irish Grand National has proven to be a valuable indicator for the subsequent season's Aintree showpiece event. Bobbyjo (1998) and Numbersixvalverde (2005) both emerged victorious in Liverpool the following year, while I Am Maximus, the winner of this race in 2023, is considered one of the top contenders for the upcoming Grand National on Saturday week.
Inexperienced participants also boast a respectable track record, with horses carrying less than 11 stone emerging victorious in 20 out of the 23 races since 2000.
The Monday runners that meet the criteria include Good Time Jonny, the champion of last year's Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final at Cheltenham. If he were to win, it would create some buzz because Tony Martin, his trainer, would face a three-month suspension starting in mid-May for violating the anti-doping regulations.
He has an excellent opportunity to post a winning result, but considering the probable odds, Paul Nolan's Daily Present (5.00) is also very enticing. It took him four attempts to achieve his first win over fences, which finally came in a handicap race at Down Royal in January. However, despite gaining popularity, he only managed to finish fifth in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival. On Monday, he only carried a weight of 10st 5lb, and there's a good chance he could exceed his initial odds of approximately 20-1.
Race at Plumpton at 2.25 Coming in at the peak of his performance after achieving a personal best to secure victory at Sandown in his previous race, Scarface also boasts a successful track record over this distance. A modest increase of 3 pounds seems reasonable for his most recent triumph.
Race at Kempton Park at 2.55 Dubai Honour, an impressive dual Group One champion in Australia last year, is undoubtedly the standout performer in this race. However, it is worth noting that he suffered a surprising defeat as the favourite in his sole previous all-weather race. This time, he will be up against a formidable adversary in Lion's Pride. John Gosden's promising four-year-old showed great potential by defeating a top-level winner in his last race as a three-year-old. He will likely continue to improve and achieve even greater success this year.
Race at Kempton Park at 3.30 Although Liseo has faced challenges in capitalising on his previous victory at this venue in January during his last three races, he has shown signs of maintaining a satisfactory level of performance. Returning to this specific track and distance might provide the ideal conditions for him to excel.
Race at Kempton Park at 4:05 PM. A modest 5lb increase may not hinder the Thames Boatman's recent victory in weight. In fact, Ethan Jones's 7lb claim adds to the positive outlook for a potential follow-up success.
Race at Kempton Park at 4.40. Out of the 10 runners present, several contenders could potentially excel in their optimal conditions. However, Vultar, who emerged victorious in the previous race over the same course and distance, may have an advantage due to his favourable starting position in stall two.