BoyleSports Irish Grand National Day -TIPS!

The BoyleSports Irish Grand National has gone for export ten times in the history of the race but there’s every chance that number could increase shortly after 5pm this Easter Monday.

Fry’s Got A Flyer
The Elliott team is 10-strong, Gigginstown have gone with 14 and in search of his first win in the race, Willie Mullins has three runners but it is Fletchers Flyer who is picked to land the spoils for Harry Fry and Noel Fehily.

This year’s €500,000 prize pool for the Irish Grand National put up by BoyleSports has really changed the significance of this race. A number of horses have had this as a long term target and Fletchers Flyer looks to be one of them.

Baie Des Iles has been aimed here by Ross O’Sullivan since she won the National Trial at Punchestown but the ground has to be a concern for her, while Minella Foru has shown he is adaptable to any sort of ground and Barry Geraghty’s opinion has to be respected.

Abolitionist would be a fairytale story for Ellmarie Holden and Rachael Blackmore and his Leinster National triumph gives him a chance, while Bless The Wings would look the best of the Elliott battalion. This horse is such a consistent servant for his connections and was narrowly denied in this race last year.

What we do know about Fletchers Flyer though is that he will relish the ground and the trip…

…having watched him win the 3m6f handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival last season and he’s only up 7lbs for that victory.

Since then, the nine-year-old has had just two runs this season, one before Christmas at Ascot and the other at the same venue in February, both over 2m7f and this extra three quarters of a mile will be the making of him.

Blackmore Can Be Crowned Champion
Rachael Blackmore’s decision to become Ireland’s first lady professional jockey was a brave one but certainly has proved inspired and after her double at Cork on Sunday, she can secure the crown of champion conditional with victory on Ex Patriot.

The four-year-old wasn’t for selling at the Cheltenham Festival sales when he didn’t meet the expectations of his owner but the following day…

he ran a cracker to finish fourth in the Triumph Hurdle behind Defi Du Seuil on a day when things didn’t go according to plan.

Ex Patriot got loose prior to the start of the Triumph and during the race didn’t enjoy the best passage but was still only beaten seven lengths and should take Grade 2 success.

That would put Blackmore on 32 winners for the season and given that her nearest rival loses his conditional status if he gets to 31 winners this season (currently on 24), Blackmore would at the very worst share the title for champion conditional and this would be a nice way to secure that.

Elliott To Keep His Place
Ireland’s current leading trainer felt he was going to struggle for a winner on Sunday at Fairyhouse but Fridaynightlights pleasantly surprised him and with Sutton Place and Samcro he can look forward to bagging a couple of winners on BoyleSports Irish Grand National day.

The Grade 2 Keelings Irish Strawberry is Gordon Elliott v Willie Mullins with Ireland’s leading two trainers supplying the entire seven runner field.

Sutton Place is the pick to continue his winning ways after landing the Boyne Hurdle and he looks like a horse who could have an exciting season next year depending on which route connections opt to go down.

Samcro is another with a massive future ahead of him and he ticks all the boxes in the bumper to complete a short price double for the Elliott team.

Recommended Bets:
Fletchers Flyer (10/1) – 5.00 Fairyhouse
Ex Patriot (9/4) – 3.15 Fairyhouse
Sutton Place (9/10) – 4.25 Fairyhouse
Samcro (8/15) – 6.15 Fairyhouse

*Prices correct at time of publication.