One of the biggest events in the Irish racing calendar arrives on Easter Monday when the BoyleSports Irish Grand National takes place at Fairyhouse in County Meath.
Thirty horses and jockeys will arrive at the starting line, with 24 fences and just over three miles separating them and a chance of a €500,000 payday for winning one of the country’s most prestigious jump races.
Power who won the Irish Grand National aboard Our Duke in 2017 was ‘speaking about Irish Grand National betting about the event
Robbie’s Irish Grand National preview
"I think Thedevilscoachman, on what he did at Limerick, probably deserves to be favourite - he ticks all the right boxes. He’s a novice who was probably expected to reach higher at the start of the season but, for whatever reason, hasn’t done so.
"At the same time, he is very ground dependent. He wants soft ground and all of his good form has come in small fields too so he has to overcome a few things to win this race.
"There are plenty of other horses in there with a chance. Panda Boy, for Martin Brassil, he’s a horse and trainer that deserves a big win and has a massive chance.
👀 🏇 All eyes will be on the BoyleSports Irish Grand National on Easter Monday!
🗣️ @Robbie_Power_ previews the big race and the big contenders to win the feature race!
📲 Checkout the outright betting market 👉https://t.co/WhWZovtpDg#BoyleSportsIGN pic.twitter.com/2RNjpq0cgk— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) April 8, 2023
"Amirite will be very competitive for Henry de Bromhead. He was running well at Leopardstown before unseating Rachael Blackmore four from home and he definitely wants some top in the ground. If he gets that, at a big price he’s got a chance.
"Angel’s Dawn, he ticks a lot of boxes too for a Grand National. There is plenty of strength in depth. Chemical Energy, who was second to Gaillard Du Mesnil at Cheltenham and second last year, is in with a shout too.
"Max Flamingo was well fancied in the race last year for Francis Casey. He’s a local trainer and local trainers have had a bit of success in the race in recent years. There wouldn’t be many more popular winners than him."
Winning the race is right up there with my biggest achievements in my career
"It is right up there with the best of my victories.
"Our Duke was a very good horse and Fairyhouse is my local track as well. I’d finished second once and been on a few beaten favourites. I always thought the race was going to elude me but, back in 2017, to win the feature race at your local track is always a huge boost.
"It was a race I always wanted to win. I was there as a kid when Desert Orchid won in 1991, so to go on some 27 years later and win it was wonderful. English Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup aside, it’s in my top three wins of my career.
"The Irish Grand National, especially now with the sponsorship of BoyleSports worth half a million euro, it’s the people’s race. It’s the race for Ireland, the most valuable handicap race in the country, the race everybody wants to win on the Irish calendar.
It has produced a great number of champions - Arkle, Desert Orchid - and I was very fortunate enough to win it on Our Duke, who was a very, very good horse.
"It is a special race."
Robbie Power’s Irish Grand National tip
"Panda Boy (9/1 with BoyleSports)."
⭐ Arkle ⭐
The greatest chaser of them all was simply unstoppable in the 1964 Irish Grand National at @Fairyhouse
📺 Watch tomorrow's renewal of the great race live on Racing TV.#RTVFlashback | @BoyleSports pic.twitter.com/kbd4w1Mmbf— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 9, 2023
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