Off The Fence: Top Picks for the Irish Grand National by Barry Geraghty and Tony Keenan

The Off The Fence crew analyses the Irish Grand National and unveils their primary bets for the prestigious event.

Host Vanessa Ryle is accompanied by frequent guests Barry Geraghty and Tony Keenan as they seek out some each-way opportunities on this bank holiday Monday.

Geraghty and Keenan concur in their choices, both backing Good Time Jonny and Any Second Now.

Geraghty commented, "Good Time Jonny clinched the Pertemps title last year with a rating of 142, yet he presently holds a 132 rating over fences. Following the Dublin Racing Festival, I highlighted him as a horse to watch, given his fifth-place finish."

"Initially, his jumping was rather average, but he has since refined his technique. Nonetheless, there's considerable room for improvement based on his recent performance. Historically, if you examine his form leading up to the Pertemps, it tends to be average during the winter months, with a notable upturn in form during spring for the major races. It wouldn't be surprising to see him follow a similar trajectory this year.”

"Another noteworthy contender is Any Second Now, who has experienced a significant drop of 20 pounds in rating since his victory in the Webster Cup at Navan around this time last year."

Keenan has narrowed down his options to four contenders for this 30-runner event, including the two highlighted by Geraghty. He remarked, "The second horse on my shortlist is Willie Mullins' We'llhavewan. He didn't quite find his rhythm in the Grand National Trial. I'm willing to give him another opportunity to showcase his capabilities and stay the distance in this race."

"He was a bit too eager in the Grand National Trial, and they positioned him quite prominently, but I anticipate a change in tactics for this race, as Mullins is adept at making such adjustments. I believe they'll aim to settle him more and perhaps hold him back a bit longer. It could be a matter of stamina as well. Regardless, he's certainly in a favourable position."

He continued, "Next on my list is Favori De Champdou. I believe he performs better on right-handed tracks, with an excellent record in that direction. He demonstrated his prowess with a commanding victory in the Florida Pearl at Punchestown back in November, and his jumping technique suits that orientation. It wouldn't be unprecedented for a Gigginstown horse to rebound strongly in this particular race."