Click here to add us to your Google preferred sources or find out more here
A high-class final field for the biggest prize in Irish racing, the BoyleSports Irish Grand National (5.00), was revealed on Saturday with a number of eyecatching jockey bookings shifting the market.
Willie Mullins, successful with I Am Maximus in 2023, has seven runners for the big race at Fairyhouse, including Argento Boy, who at 8-1 generally appeared to be the yard’s first string after finishing eighth in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at last month’s Cheltenham Festival.
However, he has since been overtaken in the market with several bookmakers by his stablemate Kiss Will (15-2 from 11-1) after stable jockey Paul Townend elected to partner him, with Sean O’Keeffe picking up the ride on Argento Boy, who is now as big as 12-1.
All of the other major players have been declared to line up on Easter Monday, including the Ben Pauling-trained The Jukebox Kid, who will take on 29 rivals when he bids to provide Britain with back-to-back victories.
The unexposed seven-year-old heads the betting before his attempt to emulate Haiti Couleurs, who struck for Rebecca Curtis last season, but he faces a formidable challenge from the home team.
Six runners are declared for owner JP McManus, including third reserve Uhavemeinstitches, and there has been little to split them in the betting, with retained rider Mark Walsh partnering Showurappreciation, who is bidding for a four-timer and was shortened to 12-1 from 16-1 by Betfred after jockey bookings were made.
His trainer Jonathan Sweeney said: “Mark Walsh was very good on him when he won last time at Navan. He’s kept progressing for us and we’re very happy. The new trip is a bit of an unknown, but we’re hopeful he’ll get it. Our horses have been in good form. We have new facilities, new gallops, so we can do everything from home and that has been a big part of it.”
Untitled Document
Recommended Offer
Get £30 in Free Bets When You Place Any Bet On Horse Racing
NEW CUSTOMER OFFER
-
More extra place horse races than any other bookmaker
New customers only. First single & E/W bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 3 X £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non withdrawable. Free bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply.
Harry Cobden, who is set to take over as first jockey for McManus from the start of next season, will be aboard his Goraibhmaithagat, while Sean and James Bowen will both be in action at Fairyhouse, with the former riding One Big Bang for British trainer James Owen, while James Bowen is on O’Toole for Stuart Crawford.
Irish trainers’ championship leader Gordon Elliott has a six-strong team, headed at by Grade 2 winner Better Days Ahead, a 14-1 shotmount of Rob James, with Jack Kennedy riding Shecouldbeanything as he bids for a breakthrough success in the race.
There will also be a first for Emmet Mullins and owner Paul Byrne, who have recorded plenty of memorable successes in valuable handicaps but are having their first Irish Grand National runner in the shape of Soldier In Milan, the 15-2 second-favourite with BoyleSports.
The sponsors have struggled to split the Willie Mullins-trained Argento Boy, Kiss Will and C’est Ta Chance, who will be ridden by Danny Mullins and was available at 9-1 on Saturday, having been backed from an opening price of 25-1.
BoyleSports said punters have been doubling up the hat-trick-seeking seven-year-old with the likes of I Am Maximus and Grangeclare West, who are among the leading contenders for next weekend’s Randox Grand National.
“Punters are putting all their Easter eggs in one basket this year and think they’ve cracked it by siding with Willie Mullins in next week’s Grand Nationals,” said BoyleSports spokesman Brian O’Keeffe.
“C’est Ta Chance has turned into a significant plunge horse in Ireland, while a fairytale success with I Am Maximus at Aintree would spell disaster for the bookies.”
Better Days Ahead Rob James
Search For Glory James Smith
Argento Boy Sean O’Keeffe
Joystick Brian Hayes
The Jukebox Kid Ben Jones
Rushmount Alan O’Sullivan
Yeah Man Keith Donoghue
C’est Ta Chance Danny Mullins
Flicker Of Hope Michael Kenneally
Soldier In Milan Donagh Meyler
Monbeg Genius Jonjo O’Neill Jr
Shecouldbeanything Jack Kennedy
Kiss Will Paul Townend
Velvet Elvis Alex Harvey
One Big Bang Sean Bowen
Goraibhmaithagat Harry Cobden
Karia Des Blaises Anna McGuinness
Better Times Ahead Simon Torrens
Hartur D’Arc Sean Flanagan
Kurasso Blue Jordan Gainford
The Enabler Danny Gilligan
Duffle Coat Josh Williamson
O’Toole James Bowen
Sa Majeste Aidan Kelly
Showurappreciation Mark Walsh
Western Walk Daniel King
Weveallbeencaught Patrick O’Brien
Born Braver Eoghan Finegan
Shanbally Kid John Shinnick
Waterford Whispers Darragh O’Keeffe
Reserves
The Lovely Man Conor Stone-Walsh
Folly Master Phillip Enright
Uhavemeinstitches tbc
Latest odds
BoyleSports: 6 The Jukebox Kid, Kiss Will, 8 Soldier In Milan, Argento Boy, C’est Ta Chance, 12 One Big Bang, 14 Better Days Ahead, Goraibhmaithagat, Showurappreciation, Uhavemeinstitches (reserve), 16 Better Times Ahead, Flicker Of Hope, Monbeg Genius, 20 bar.
Read more:
WATCH: Paul Kealy and Keith Melrose give their best bets for the weekend and the Irish Grand National
I’m expecting more success for Britain in the Irish Grand National – plus why it’s far too early to give up on Albert Einstein
‘He’s been talked up recently, more by the Irish than anyone else, but he’s got a profile similar to last year’s winner Haiti Couleurs’
Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.
Important information: This article may contain links to offers or promotions that were available at the time of publication. These offers may have since expired or changed.
Offers are handpicked and come from operators that our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing.
