Jane Mangan

Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Irish Grand National Tips

37 seconds ago

| BY News Team

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan is back to preview both Sunday and Monday at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival.

Fairyhouse, Sunday

The 2:40pm is the two-mile Novice Hurdle and Leader D’Allier looks the obvious choice here. He was a late withdrawal from the Supreme due to lameness, but he arrives fresh after an impressive win at Punchestown, where he travelled strongly and scored on the bridle. He was well touted at multiple Cheltenham previews, including by David Casey on William Hill’s Inside Track: Ireland, and he should prove very hard to beat.

With that in mind, this could be a huge day for Willie Mullins. He saddles a number of runners in the 3:15pm, but the one I like is He’s On Fire. It’s an unconventional route to come from Carlisle to Fairyhouse, but it seems likely he wasn’t rated highly enough to get into the handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival. He had three runs in France, remaining a maiden, but arrives here completely unexposed and now steps into Graded company for the first time.

The Honeysuckle Mares’ Novice Hurdle (3:50pm) looks a cracking contest, with a strong group of mares assembled, but Oldschool Outlaw sets the standard and looks very difficult to oppose. She produced the standout performance of this field at Cheltenham, where she was arguably ridden a little too patiently to show her best. She’s already a winner at this track, will handle the ground well, and she’ll be difficult to stop.

In the two-mile handicap novice chase (4:25pm), it’s hard to get away from Break My Soul after that excellent run in the Grand Annual behind Martator and Jazzy Matty. Her form also ties in well with Pure Steel from Punchestown back in February. She was a high-class hurdler last season and now returns to handicaps off a similar mark to Cheltenham, so I think she’s set to run a big race.

In the Grade 1 WillowWarm Gold Cup (5:00pm), where better place to start than with my dad’s horse, Pure Steel. The step up to two and a half miles should really play to his strengths, and any rain will only enhance his chances, so he looks a solid each-way play. That said, Kappa Jy Pyke still sets the standard and looks the one they all have to beat. Predators Gold may be the mount chosen by Paul Townend, but Danny Mullins knows his horse well, so I wouldn’t see that as too much of a negative.

Fairyhouse, Monday

In the feature, the Irish Grand National (5:00pm), the ante-post market has been strong on The Jukebox Kid, and he remains towards the head of affairs for good reason. He profiles as a horse who could still be ahead of his handicap mark of 144. While he’s yet to encounter a field of this size, he brings proven graded class, as he showed at Ascot last time, and could be the standout novice in the race. He’s my pick to win.

For an each-way angle, I like Showurappreciation, the mount chosen by Mark Walsh. He carries a 9lb penalty for his win at Navan two weeks ago, and while his form may not be as strong on paper in terms of what he’s beaten, his light weight combined with Walsh’s booking makes him an interesting contender. It would also be a fantastic result for a smaller yard like Jonathan Sweeney’s, who saddles three runners in the race.

In the juvenile hurdle at 2:40pm, I really like the filly Majolique. She was very impressive at Naas on heavy ground in what was a steadily run race, showing a sharp turn of foot when it mattered. Her stablemates Proactif and Macho Man all have to bounce back from their Cheltenham efforts, so with that in mind, she’d be my selection here.

In the 3:15pm, I like the profile of Grann’s Boy. He won here over two and a half miles on soft and heavy ground last year, although he now finds himself off a much higher mark of 130. He showed his well-being on the Flat at Navan last week when finishing second, and back over hurdles he should be suited by a strong test of stamina. With Darragh O’Keeffe back on board, who partnered him to victory here last year, and connections that do well at this track, he gets the nod from me.

In the 3:50pm, it’s fascinating to see Slade Steel back over hurdles, now with cheekpieces applied. He’s a horse with a big reputation, having won the Supreme in 2024, but his subsequent switch to fences hasn’t quite worked out. This will be his first run back over hurdles after six chasing attempts, and he could be well treated compared to his rivals. He’s certainly an intriguing contender.

I think the 4:20pm is a race that could suit Energumene. Yes, he’s now a 12-year-old, and the former dual Champion Chase winner at Cheltenham isn’t quite the force he once was, but this step up in trip could really play to his strengths, especially on soft ground. He also comes here relatively fresh compared to some of his rivals. Found A Fifty looks as though his best efforts may have come earlier in the season, while Paul Townend’s decision to side with Energumene over Saint Sam catches the eye. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him roll back the years here.

The 5:40pm is a big-field contest, and one that interests me is the mare Savante. She won nicely at Navan in February, and the step up in trip looks likely to suit. While she’s been hit with a 10lb rise for that success, she did win with something in hand and now runs off a mark of 122. Taking on the geldings won’t be easy, but with proven ability on soft ground and a stamina test expected, she could be a lively contender.