Willie Mullins strategically prevented Nick Rockett from participating in any events at Cheltenham, ensuring he is in peak condition for this Easter Monday marathon. Since the race was first announced, Nick Rockett has maintained his position as the frontrunner in the betting market.
He is the favored one of Paul Townend, who gave I Am Maximus an incredible ride to secure his inaugural victory in the Irish Grand National last year. Mullins believes the top contender fulfills numerous criteria this time around.
The expert coach mentioned: "I believe Nick Rockett is the perfect candidate. He's a beginner, and we held him back from Cheltenham to participate in this race. Everything looks great except for the weight, which is relatively high for a beginner in this area. However, all other aspects of him are favorable.
'He continues to make progress' – Gibney seeks further success with Raffles
It has been twelve years since Lion Na Bearnai surprised everyone with a victory in the Irish Grand National in 2012, at odds of 33-1. Now, Tom Gibney is making a comeback with another impressive contender, who is not at the same odds as 33-1 and might even give Nick Rockett a run for his money as the favorite.
Intense Raffles is the initial horse that Gibney has trained for the dynamic team of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, and the impact he has already had is remarkable.
The gray horse has been unbeaten in both of his races since joining Patrice Quinton's stable in France. In his most recent race at Fairyhouse, he won by an impressive margin of 43 lengths.
Gibney promptly selected the marathon on Easter Monday as his choice, and he has been pleased with the progress made in preparing the relatively unknown six-year-old.
Gibney expressed his utmost satisfaction with him. He should have no issue with the surface, and we're optimistic that he'll continue to progress since he's a young horse. We're eagerly anticipating it.
What Trainers Are Saying
Jonathan Sweeney, the coach of Churchstonewarrior
My primary worry is the weighty terrain. He is likely more proficient on improved terrain, as his most impressive performances have occurred on such surfaces. However, he is in good physical condition and has previously triumphed on challenging ground at Thurles, so we will seize this opportunity.
Henry de Bromhead, the trainer of Senior Chief
He appears to be in excellent shape, and we are pleased with his performance. We're excited about it since he has a strong track record on challenging terrain. I don't know if that, along with the journey, could be a problem, but he appears to be in good health.
Gavin Cromwell, the trainer of Yeah Man and Hartur D'Arc
Yeah, Man won't encounter any issues with the journey or terrain. He performed admirably on the challenging terrain, securing a victory at Haydock in his most recent outing. Therefore, the current conditions should be favorable for him. I have some reservations about the journey with Hartur D'Arc despite his impressive performance in the Leinster National. However, since we have a considerable distance to cover, there is a certain level of uncertainty involved. However, he is entering the race in excellent condition, and if he remains, he certainly has a favorable opportunity.
John Flavin, the coach behind Street Value
He's in excellent shape, he'll appreciate the conditions, and he has a fondness for Fairyhouse. His performance in the Grand National Trial and the Thyestes was underwhelming, so he should definitely improve on that. However, he did win the Porterstown convincingly at Fairyhouse. He will likely pay a substantial price, but we will need to seize the opportunity, as the ground conditions are highly advantageous for him.