Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Destiny awaits Any Second Now in Irish National

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty looks ahead to racing from Haydock on Saturday and the Easter meeting at Fairyhouse, including the Irish Grand National on Monday.

Haydock, Saturday

PLAYFUL SAINT (2:05pm) was only beaten a neck in Stratford last time and that was his first start for a year. He raced keenly that day but with that run under his belt, he should settle a little better. He had a good run behind Iceo in Sandown last season, when only beaten five lengths in third, and also finished second to Love Envoi earlier that campaign. That would look like the strongest form in this race.

In an open Stayers’ Series Final (2:40pm), the one I’m going to take an each-way chance on is Venetia Williams’ TANGANYIKA. He was well beaten on very heavy ground at Uttoxeter last time, but before that he had been a good winner at Newbury, also in testing conditions. With his form on this kind of ground, I think he could offer a bit of value here.

Tom George’s CHAMPAGNE MYSTERY (3:15pm) has form in heavy ground in Auteuil. He was only beaten two lengths by Golden Son at Kempton last time and I think he’s going to appreciate the slower ground here.

Fairyhouse, Sunday

The one I like in the Grade 1 Honeysuckle Mares’ Novice Hurdle (2:35pm) is JETARA. Jack Kennedy is back aboard having won very impressively aboard her when beating Pink In The Park in a Grade 3 in Leopardstown over Christmas. She was then unlucky at the Dublin Racing Festival where she didn’t settle as well as she did previously. She raced prominently and Rachael Blackmore seemed to lose a stirrup leaving the back straight, so a lot didn’t go right for her there. She still ran a good race and had Albert Bartlett winner Stellar Story eight lengths behind her, so that form has obviously worked out really well. She would be my choice to oppose favourite Jade De Grugy.

There are question marks over some of the more fancied ones in the Grade 2 Novice Hurdle (3:10pm). No Flies On Him was well beaten last time in Punchestown when fancied, finishing nine lengths behind Tullyhill, who didn’t exactly frank that form at Cheltenham. I don’t think De Capo beat an awful lot when he won in Leopardstown last time, so I’m not sure about him either. I think if Loughglynn was to bounce back to form after disappointing last time then he would have a big shout but it’s interesting that Paul Townend rides ANOTHERWAY. He was a long way behind No Flies On Him on his first start after a long time off the track at Leopardstown over Christmas, but he improved dramatically from that to win in Naas by 12 lengths last time. He could be a horse that’s still on the up and might be the one to side with.

Mark Walsh rides Willie Mullins’ MIRAZUR WEST (3:45pm), who was a little bit disappointing behind Fun Fun Fun last time out, but I think he could improve for that run. He was an impressive winner over this course and distance two starts ago and could bounce back here.

BLOOD DESTINY (4:55pm) was beaten by Spillane’s Tower at Punchestown in January where he just didn’t seem to get home. He was ridden prominently that day, as he has been in the past, but he was ridden more patiently when gaining his revenge over 2 miles in Navan last time. Paul Townend always looked confident that day and I’d imagine he will employ similar tactics over this 2m4f. I do think Spillane’s Tower is a smart, up-and-coming horse, but I’m a big fan of Blood Destiny and I think those more patient tactics can help him get the upper hand.

Fairyhouse, Monday

The Irish Grand National (5:00pm) looks an ultra-competitive race as usual. I think the big talking point is that the ground is going to be heavy – it’s been a very wet winter and while the forecast is reasonable ahead of Monday, the going is not expected to improve much. It’s a case of looking for horses that will handle the ground and while I do like Good Time Jonny, conditions are a concern for him. I do like ANY SECOND NOW, who is down 20lbs since winning in Navan in March last year. He beat Velvet Elvis on heavy ground on that occasion, so we know he’ll handle conditions. He has been a bit disappointing through the winter, but that seems to be his way and he tends to come to himself in the spring.

The other horse that I think could offer some value is WE’LLHAVEWAN. Back in December, he was an impressive winner of a handicap hurdle in Navan, beating Summerville Boy in a valuable race. He went off a hot favourite for the Irish Grand National Trial in Punchestown last month. He looked the winner jumping two-out, but just didn’t seem to get home. With him having 71 days between those two races, he may just have needed the run a bit. There’s nothing to suggest he will have a problem with the trip, and he has form on the ground, so he could be worth keeping onside.