Irish Grand National tips: Selections for all eight races at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday

Nick Rockett might give Willie Mullins a third BoyleSports Irish Grand National in Fairyhouse. Ireland’s most valuable chase, a three-mile and five-furlong marathon in heavy ground, will provide a severe test of stamina. But the Closutton gelding looks well-placed to enhance the fine record of novices in a race which has seen five seven-year-olds triumph in the last decade.

A rise of 11lb in the weights leaves Nick Rockett, my long-term fancy for the race, to carry 11-11 (rather than 10-13) as he makes his handicap debut in search of a winner’s prize of €270,000 under Paul Townend.

Nick Rockett is running for only the fourth time over fences today, but has already shown a liking for Fairyhouse and is the most unexposed among a disappointingly small field of 21.

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Winner of a Grade 2 novice hurdle at this meeting last year, Nick Rockett shaped with plenty of promise on his chase debut at this venue in early December, finishing fourth behind Corbetts Cross, Three Card Brag and Monty’s Star.

And he fulfilled that promise when readily brushing aside stable-companion and subsequent dual-scorer Tactical Move on a return to the County Meath venue on New Year’s Day.

Last time, Nick Rockett failed to cope with American Mike in the Grade 3 Ten Up in Navan, the day he struck me as a likely Irish National type.

The seven-year-old jumps soundly and stays well. He’ll need luck in running. He’ll need to overcome his inexperience and shoulder a welter burden. But he’s a classy novice with a huge chance for Mullins.

Among the main threat to Nick Rockett is French import Intense Raffles, unbeaten in his two starts, both at Fairyhouse, for Tom Gibney, who won this race with Lion Na Bearnai in 2012.

This six-year-old grey won with plenty in hand on both occasions, should cope with this step-up in trip and deserves plenty of respect under J J Slevin, deputising for the injured Daryl Jacob.

Gordon Elliott, successful with General Principle in 2018, runs seven, a squad spear-headed by his Grant National Trial victor Where It All Began, fourth to Inothwayurthinkin in the Kim Muir in Cheltenham last time.

Runner-up in that trial at Punchestown,We’llhavewan is another Mullins contender and, carrying just 10-1, less Kieran Callaghan’s 5lb claim, comes into considerations.

Another lightweight worthy of note is course specialist Where’s Frankie, up 8lb for a last-time-out win over a marathon trip at Leopardstown and a four-time winner on this track.

Now in the veteran category, the Ted Walsh-trained Any Second Now, with a second and third in the Aintree Grand National on his CV, is potentially well-handicapped here off 140, considering he reached a career-high mark of 162 and recorded his last win in the Webster Cup in Navan last spring when rated 160.

And Gavin Cromwell has high hopes for both Hartur D’arc, raised 9lb for his Leinster National win in Naas, and Yeah Man, who bagged the Grand National Trial in Haydock last time, earning a 7lb hike.

Meanwhile, the Willie Mullins-trained Saint Sam will be expected to defy top-weight in the McInerney Properties Fairyhouse Chase, one of three Grade 2 events on today’s supporting card in Fairyhouse.

The free-going seven-year-old has won four of his last five starts, his only defeat coming when he fell at the last in a match at Listowel in September.

But he notched wins at Tramore, Killarney and Galway in 2023, and returned after a break to beat Riviere D’etel comfortably in the Red Mills (Grade 2) in Gowran Park last time.

Rated 163, he must concede weight to the likes of stable-companion Appreciate It, Journey With Me and Fil Dor, but should be up the task.

Earlier, Mullins and Paul Townend might also strike with course winner Zarak The Brave in the Grade 2 Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle.

He’s stepping-up to two and a half miles for the first time. But, unless his Cheltenham exertions have left a mark, he might have too many gears for British raider Brewinupastorm and Thedevilscoachman.

Gordon Elliott’s Ndaawi, third to Lark In The Mornin in the Boodlers at Cheltenham, can see off Bottler’secret and Givemefive in the Grade 2 O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle.

Peter O’Hehir's tips for Fairyhouse

2.05 Redstone

2.40 Ndaawi

3.15 Positive Thinker

3.50 Zarak The Brave

4.20 Saint Sam (Nap)

5.00 Nick Rockett

5.40 St.Denis’s Well

6.10 Coco Masterpiece

Next Best

2.05 Implicit

2.40 Bottler’secret