Paul Callaghan’s Easter Monday Racing Tips At Fairyhouse

Former jockey and now broadcaster Paul Callaghan takes a look at Easter Monday’s highly anticipated action at Fairyhouse, where we’ve got the BoyleSports Irish Grand National.

2.40 Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) over 2m.

BoyleSports horse racing ambassador Robbie Power has a cracking book of rides and I think Teahupoo can get the ball rolling in the first of our Graded action on Monday afternoon.

He was arguably a fortunate winner on his Irish debut at Fairyhouse in January following the final flight departure of Youmdor. However, he made short work of his opposition in Grade 3 company, when justifying odds on favouritism on his last start and he looks potentially quite smart.

3.50 Hurdle (Grade 2) over 2m4f.

French Dynamite gets the vote here, in the hope that he can build on his last time out success at Leopardstown in early March. He comes here a fresh horse and is the mount of Rachael Blackmore for trainer Mouse Morris.

4.20 Chase (Grade 2) over 2m 4f.

Castlegrace Paddy lost little in defeat despite being a beaten favourite when finishing second behind Any Second Now, who is towards the top of the betting market for the Aintree Grand National next Saturday. He’s got a cracking attitude and should give a good account of himself in this Grade 2 contest.

5pm BoyleSports Irish Grand National (Extended Handicap Chase) over 3m 5f.

Latest Exhibition is a fascinating contender and could be a Grade 1 horse in handicap company but with 7 places rewarding each-way punters here at BoyleSports, I’m looking to take the favourite on.

I thought Home By The Lee’s performance when finishing third in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse behind Envoi Allen and Assemble last November had Irish National written all over it.

He’s better going right-handed as his jumping goes to pieces for whatever reason, going the opposite way around. He was a good winner of a competitive Novice Handicap Chase, despite jumping right at Naas on his last start at the end of February.

I think Home By The Lee has every chance of giving jockey J J Slevin a second success in the race, and trainer Joseph O’Brien his first.

5.40 Handicap Chase over 3m 150y.

I mentioned at the beginning that Robbie Power looks to have a good book of rides and I think he can sign off the Easter Festival 2021 with a winner on Rapid Response.

I’m guessing – but cannot confirm, that Robbie could have had the choice of riding one or two others in the field.

The handicapper has given the Jessica Harrington trained mare a chance as she races off a rating of 126 here, she has finished second off 135 in the past and should also appreciate the better ground.