Fairyhouse is the focus this weekend with the BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase and the Grade 1 WillowWarm Gold Cup taking centre stage.
Betting Tips for the Irish Grand National
Monbeg Genius finished a close third in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival three years ago. The form of that race has worked out well. The winner, Corach Rambler, won the Randox Grand National a month later. The second horse, Fastorslow, won the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup a month later.
Monbeg Genius has won just one modest handicap at Uttoxeter from his next 13 races since that run at Cheltenham. However, his four runs this season have been increasingly promising. He finished third last time out in the Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival last month on ground much livelier than ideal.
The BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday (5 p.m.) could be his last chance of landing a big handicap chase. Back Monbeg Genius one point each way at 33-1 with Ladbrokes, paying four places. There will be more places available on the day but the 33-1 may not last.
One Big Bang, trained by James Owen, was third in the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month. Back him one point each way at 20-1 with Paddy Power, Betfair or Sky Bet, all paying five places.
British Contenders at Fairyhouse
Ben Pauling trains The Jukebox Kid, the forecast favourite for the race. This lightly-raced improving novice chaser will have a big chance of landing the spoils in Ireland. Champion jockey Sean Bowen has been provisionally booked for the ride on One Big Bang.
WillowWarm Gold Cup Preview
The Grade 1 WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Sunday (5 p.m.) is an interesting contest. At the time of writing, the final declarations for the race were not known.
If declared, Willie Mullins-trained Kappa Jy Pyke will be looking for a hat-trick of wins this season. This improving six-year-old gelding is the likely favourite, although there has been strong support for the British-trained runner Sixmile.
Just a week after connections highlighted to the Racing Post how they thought they had found the right horse for the Irish Grand National in Stumptown, trainer Gavin Cromwell failed to declare him for the race earlier this week, perhaps after a setback.