Barry Geraghty
Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Search For Glory in the Irish National
William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty previews Easter Sunday and Easter Monday’s racing from Fairyhouse, including the Irish Grand National.
Fairyhouse, Sunday
LEADER D’ALLIER was well fancied for the Supreme Novices’ at Cheltenham but didn’t make the race. He was an easy winner of his maiden hurdle when last seen in January and before that had been second to a good horse in Ballyfad. He has a far easier looking task here in the two-mile Grade 2 novice hurdle (2:40pm) compared to at Cheltenham and he should take a bit of beating.
The two-and-a-half-mile Grade 2 novice hurdle (3:15pm) looks a tricky enough race. HE’S ON FIRE won a maiden hurdle at Carlisle in a canter and before that he had some good form in Auteuil in the autumn. He’s Paul Townend’s pick and without there being a standout horse in here, he could be the one.
OLDSCHOOL OUTLAW looks set to really enjoy the step up to two-and-a-half miles in the Grade 1 Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle (3:50pm). For me, she looked like she was caught out for pace over two-miles-one-furlong in the Mares’ Novice at Cheltenham. She did keep going really well to finish second but was on the backfoot from a long way out. The softer ground at Fairyhouse will suit her too. It’s a quality race and there’s a lot of confidence behind Zanoosh, but on the book Oldschool Outlaw is the one to beat and I think the step up in trip is going to be ideal for her.
BREAK MY SOUL ran a big race at Cheltenham to be beaten less than a length into third behind Martator in the Grand Annual. That’s by far the strongest form on offer in the Listed two-mile handicap chase (4:25pm) and a reproduction of that should make her hard to beat.
The Grade 1 WillowWarm Gold Cup (5:00pm) is very competitive and is a quality race. Kappa Jy Pyke has sprung a surprise on his last two starts and has definitely surprised Paul Townend as he’s been watching on while riding some of the opposition. He’s the one to beat on the book, but Paul has once again looked elsewhere and is riding Predators Gold. He was a weak finisher behind Kappa Jy Pyke last time at Punchestown, but he’s a horse that has always been highly thought of and I would expect a better show from him this time. PURE STEEL could be the value here though. He had Break My Soul 12 lengths behind him at Punchestown when last seen, and while he did disappoint behind Kappa Jy Pyke the time before that in January, he has largely looked like a progressive type. I think stepping back up to two-and-a-half miles after winning over two miles the last day will suit and he could spring a bit of a surprise.
Fairyhouse, Monday
The feature race on Easter Monday is of course the Irish Grand National (5:00pm), where 30 runners will set off over three-miles-and-five-furlongs of Fairyhouse in a bid for glory.
SEARCH FOR GLORY was very unlucky in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival, unseating at the last when holding a winning chance. The time before that he looked to struggle on heavy ground in the Thyestes at Gowran, but he had been a good second behind Favori De Champdou in the big three-mile handicap chase on yielding ground at Leopardstown over Christmas. He could only manage 13th in the Irish National last year but that came at the end of a season where he had been out of form and his runs this campaign have been much better. I think he’s returning to the promise he has shown in the past and going up in trip will suit him. The Ultima is usually a good stepping stone to Nationals and the two who finished first and second, Johnnywho and Jagwar, are both well fancied for the English National. The less rain that falls for Search For Glory between now and race time, the better his chance will be, but if backing up his Ultima effort, I can see him running a big race.
The Jukebox Kid is well fancied for this, but is a skinny enough price for a horse with limited experience and a 30-runner handicap is going to be a rude awakening for him.
Soldier In Milan is another that looks to bring lots of potential but is also short on experience for a race like this.
Showurappreciation could be a dark one here, under a nine-pound penalty after winning at Navan a few weeks ago. He ran on to get up late in the day over three miles there and it looked a good performance, so he could be a sneaky one near the foot of the weights.
