Irish Grand National preview with Donn McClean | Formscan

Emma Nagle is joined by Donn McClean to preview the action from Fairyhouse ahead of their Irish Grand National 2024 Meeting.

irishracing.com

Hello and thanks for tuning into the episode of for scouton Irish racing.com of the big Easter festivals at Cork and fairy house delighted to be joined by D McLean look look over the weekends racing and Don I suppose it’s a jam-packed weekend but I think Easter’s always enjoyable we plenty of top pass

Horses around ah yeah know it’s it’s it’s great I’m um like the nation hunt meeting the AR Nation meeting at house it’s great it’s uh a Big Field some really competitive racing obviously the highlights the Irish National on on Eastern Monday but um yeah some good racing throughout the whole weekend yeah

We just got the Declaration stre today as well for Sunday and the gr grade one M noice there is shaping up to be um a very nice looking race as well so we’ll kick off on Saturday anyway and we’ll talk about a couple of races um in the

Fairy house start off with I think the first place we have a chat about is the 43 which is the um no noice cardo sorry so plenty in here of good chances Shannon Royal tops the weight for Gordon Elliott and daddy Gillian taking off a valuable five pounds built by bore here

A quick turnaround after slightly disappointing May in the Carl cup at chelham willly again though astronomy represented and Olympic man seems to be the pick if he’s wins and Paul to and takes the right on him I thought he was quite an interesting winner maybe jumping qu W despite of he’s jumping in

Nce last time but looks like one with a big engine done um what’s your take on this one yeah I love that Emma um yeah like he he he does have an engine like he will 15 length in the end despite that jumping well as you say um and Paul

Has chosen to WR him wat path I suppose with what path we we’re kind of getting to know how good he is he’s probably a we bit more exposed than Olympic man so you can understand why Paul T has chosen to ride Olympic man built by balmore

Like yeah as you mentioned like he was he was sent off as four to one favorite for the Carl cup which was you know even a week out I know he was the kind of the horse that a lot of people were talking about in the cup I think the fact that

He was Friend by Martin brazzil was one of the one of the key points to there and look he was disappointing but he was Progressive before that he won his his made hard C Christmas and then one wild punch next time on heavy ground so you

Just have to put a line through his run in the Carl cup just be interest to see throughout the weekend I don’t know what you think about it but how horses who ran at Shelton how they’re going to perform it’s only 17 days like Easter is

Very early this year so any horse who ran a chelton even if they didn’t you know if they didn’t finish off the race or didn’t look like they had a hard race it still has to take a lot out of horses going over and back doesn’t it yeah for

Sure and especially with the ground I think being so testing in in fairy house like um I saw an update this morning even though they didn’t get a whole PL of rain I think over the last day or so it’s still heavy ground I suppose just all the they’ve been getting in the

Weeks building up to it and um I think this heavy showers kind of forecast kind of throughout the weekend so that like you’d imagine de by Valore if he’s that his best that ground would suit him like we saw him winning in limr on on very testing ground for like you said like

With Easter being so soon you’d have to maybe maybe watch watch and the first few who are coming back from shelham and look I mean you you know better than I do with horses like it’s going to affect different horses differently isn’t it like they’re gonna like some of them are

Going to come out of it okay and some of them you know it just might need a a bit more time Shannon Royal like he he won I thought he just sced home in the end from suy sum boy the last say at Turles but thought he won would AIT you know he

Had more in hand than the better winning margin and he’s a horse who like he’s A’s he’s second season Lis now so um he’s got a big waight but Danny gilan Tak five pounds off as you mentioned I think I think he’s a classy hor I think there’s a we bit more to

Come from him yeah he could be good chance scorr and Jack Kennedy suspended I think um for the first day of the of the Easter Festival so that’s why Danny gets the right on that one I’d imagine but there’s actually one down the bottom I thought was a little bit interesting

As well native speaker there for Henry bmid and Rachel Blackmore thought he was a good second in the handicap um first time in a handicap last time in thir sorry um he has 12 links to make up on B by balmore on midal Hurdle form but to presuming maybe having that question

Mark about Bild by bore and he’s getting plenty of weight up from here as well I say he could have a bit of a squeak in here um at this kind of trip to S would suit him might be a little bit of a question Mar around the morning R there

When he’s stepping on M and trip he went two my tree last I I making a plent to use of himself and maybe jumping right few question marks about him so I might take a small chance on um Native speak Seer each way there for um Henry and

Rachel I think he might have a little bit of a chance there but we’ll go on to the feature the W handicap listed listed handicap and again plenty here com back um after competing in the chelam festival and plenty of them actually disappointed at chelam so maybe have a

Look and see how build by valmore get on but again like it kind of depends on the horse like it might affect different horses differently but Westport Co up there top of the W is the choice of all town in F Mullins pulled up in the county hardle last time an interesting

Rner I taught in here that was comfort zone for Joseph O’Brien and JJ S he’s making his first run since um second in a flat handicap at lepers Town back in September he was a dual grade two winning a juvenile hurdler um I just thought he was interesting in here

Against horses who probably a few of them probably have question marks about him now he will have to be ready and the ground might be plenty soft for him but um he’s I thought I thought he could be interesting on come back down fully agree with you yeah yeah fully agree

Know he’s he’s a really interesting horse he like he was a he was a high class juvenile two seasons ago like he won the the the Finesse hurdle as CH them and the finale hurdle at chpo in opposite order uh and he was kind of he was he was high in the list

For Shelton that that year so that was last season he didn’t run after he won the Finesse hurdle and as you say ran a good race St on well the last handing up a five back in September and yeah like he’s he’s still only five he’s a little

Bit of a forgotten horse but he was obviously highly regarded he was a good horse on the flat as well before that and yeah coming on here you think that like he’s obviously had his issues but you think that this race you know it looks like a good race for

Him listed handicap Herer two miles and it wouldn’t be surprising if they had it in mind for for a little while JS hav’t taken the ride obviously for Joseph O’Brien so and he still a fairly lightly race horse and he’s only five so there could be a little bit more to come from

Him so yeah I fully agree I think he’s very interesting and yeah for sure I think he could take a bit be in there H vict dream of course interesting one there for me one of the ones that didn’t go to sh he was last

Seen Fort um in a grade tree I think buing f for f but ground might be a little bit too soft for him was gr One winner on the flat probably a bit strange to see him um throwing up a handicap p in fairy house but um took a

Little bit little bit of time to get used to the hard SPS but take it off the America on heavy ground at n but um I be in the comfort zone Camp there with you as well but just kind of point out Sunday a quick little mention some of

The flag and because there’s so much going on over the weekend but it was exciting to see one look the golf Millions winner making her seasonal reappearance for Al Tumi and bdy Lee down in Cork um faces Four rivals there she likely to be long odds on so not

Really a betting Prospect but um Don she’s probably an exciting one for this year I think around 10 to one for the guine at the moment yeah I’m looking forward to seeing her again I’m absolutely like what she did in the G million and she wasn’t a wild price in

That she’s well she C 65,000 at the at the The Ore sale and yeah like was just seriously impressive winning the G million and came clear cherry blossom who’ been second in the loader States a group two I think at York um but yeah like she she was like one of the big

Ching hores at the end of last season so it’s going to be really really interesting to see her back now and see how she’s wintered and how she does on her first run at Three and Patty Tumi he started off with the strike rate like it

Was last year on the year before 50% to two I think two WIS from four runners so far so he doesn’t waste bullets so yeah it’s going to be very really interesting El yeah Pat toi um yeah he strike every years I believe I T another interesting

One he had in there Z cork um he has a a half sister TI Bach I think first run for him in the first racing c as well so that’s probably another one to keep an eye out on but big racing in midan as well um on the Saturday will you get

Time to watch that at all or is there just too much going on in Ireland I suppose AUST is kind of the Highlight there yeah I know keep an ey on all right yeah need eyes all over the place but we’ll look back on anyway even even

If we don’t get to see it live or get to pay much too much attention to it live but yeah look it’s great that AUST Rodan is in training isn’t it like he’s a foury old now like given his breeding by D back out road to denden you would have

Forgiven them if they if they’d sent him off to St after his three-y old career all he achieved with jul Derby winner an Irish Champions Stakes Winner aitos cup tough winner uh but no it’s great that he’s back and he’s starting off pretty early obviously gone out to Dubai for

The Shima classic and he’s favorite for in front of Liberty Island if second behind Equinox in the Japan cup of course this is this is Japan day isn’t it Dubai World Cup Day the Japanese they they Farm These races and I think we’re we’re finally we finally come around to

The realization that Japanese hes are actually quite good so yeah look that it’ll be it’ll be good Emily up joh is in there as well so it’ll be a good test for AUST Rodan but um yeah you’d like to see him going a win and then you know moving forward

Maybe the S go cup Aden Abri was s there last week and Prince of WS a second at Royal Ascot and then moving on through the season and he’s going to make you have a go on dirt at some point in the season all going well so look it’s it’s

Going to be good to see him back isn’t it yeah it’s an exciting campaign like here in the right A’s talking about them as well and the traveling they’re doing is interesting like going to chime on the D maybe later on the year so yeah hopefully gets off 10 nice day like you

Said it’s great to see him back in train this year because um we don’t get to see that too often with those kind of superstars and the flats kind of too tempting to retire them I suppose after a good Tri old campaign but we’ll go back to the jumps race anyway back to

Fairy house um for Sunday’s car and the first race we have a look at there is the two a really good declaration in this um the honeysuckle mayor’s n hle one in the past by likes of honeysuckle of course Annie power J’s girl and there’s no shortage of real high class Mayors in

Here either J Dei interestingly enough I think um has been declared by Will Mullins Paul Town takes the RO but she’s I I suppose if you take out the Sheldon R she would be a lot shorter price but um even then this this really high quality mirors com up against her here

At Atara was really good third at the Double racing Festival against the boy the boys and by reminisence is a may I like maybe the two miles might be up heart Street completely but plenty in here um really some really high quality Mayors done um are you in the Jake jji

Camp or would you be looking to take on yeah like yeah if you if you put line through her run in the mar start at CH Festival then before that like she was such an exciting horse obviously she and brighter days ahead went to the sh fesal

It was kind of b as a match between them golden a came and spil the part um but that it was a strangely Run Race wasn’t it like they they really were at no Pace um saying earlier on the finishing section was 114% of of overall time finish speed so

Um they didn’t go great pace and that like golden a has got that flat race pedigree so you can understand how she outpaced and that golden a could be a very good M and maybe you know in the light of that she might not get the credit that she deserved because she

Still had to be tough and she had to she had to show that pace but she didn’t she was going away again at the end just the way the race was run it didn’t suit Jed deji didn’t say super rer ahead either but Jed DJI she kind of got into a we

Bit of trouble as well after the second last before the turn for home and that didn’t help in a slowly run rest she got shuffled back she was further back than ideal on the run into the home stretch you had to deliver or a run on the far

Side away from most like golden Ace and and by days ahe came up the near side so I think you can allow that run for all of that before that she won her made hard over two and a half mil then she won a gr three the at fery house over

Two and a qu quart miles back at F now up two and a half miles she we know that she goes well in the ground she’s an exciting horse for next season all going well um but yeah like she’s favorite now but I think she’s the right favorite

Look on on Jara yeah like I I just thought her her run kind of flattened out a we B and then finally Lacy race the last day as you say she was against the boys and back against the mays now and she’s ski out and she comes in here

A fresh horse and fun fun fun in there as well it was a really good book last season and beat man’s way last time a nice and great three race that was a good run so she comes in on on and up but yeah I I think J Dei is probably the

One to beat I think you’re kind of are you you’re sighting against are you I I would have kind of question marks about the mayor com back so quickly um from chelham now she must be in flying form just the fact that would he declared her in the first place but I

Think it could be a tough or fask um 17 days but like you said the kind of the way the race was running gum they they R it so slowly maybe she didn’t have the hardest race that um despite being beaten so I mean I wouldn’t be firmly

Against her but I don’t think I I’ll probably be backing right I I might take a small chance on bu luminesence each way for gabin K I think she’s just a really FY now kind of coms bit re warning I suppose she’s kind of more own

For next year just looking at her she looks big massive Chas and it was two M six she won over last time back back to two M four today um she look I don’t maybe she probably wouldn’t be the py type like maybe a j Dei um yeah it might

Be side actually might skip for I might take it if luminescence was a good price like 12 14 16 to one on the day I might take a chancelor each way um she’s a marry like um kind of for the future more so but it’s kind of it’s such a

Competitive Fair it’s great to see it’s kind of such a big feel for a grade one contest it’s not really something like you wouldn’t see it too often and it’s was nice to see the the English one on there Springtime promise over o’b as

Well but yeah a real um a real uh was an interesting one to watch me probably not a bing Prospect but um yeah J was if you put l to that sh number one she would be a much shorter price so I’m trusting that Willie has her back here which I’m

Sure he does in top form she could be very hard to beat again but we’ll go on to the next race then the tree1 the PQ suspended ceilings NIS hardle great to event and again one last year by Leading National hope actually Nick Walker and will he has another strong hand um but

They Ed Grady train sorry no flies on him is the early americ leader there around 7 to4 I suppose he made a big impr there winning he’s um madeen her in leard town earlier on the year skip chelam with him um so come to your fresh

Horse done were you impressed by him in Le I was he was maybe a sluggy disappointing then last time behind toy Hill yeah like you had to be impressed with him at over Christmas um and then yeah he skipped the Dublin racing Festival went to that listed race at at

At Point bumped into toy Hill and toy Hill was very good on the day toy Hill obviously didn’t enhance that form of shat next time but probably wasn’t his running for whatever reason um so I wouldn’t I wouldn’t necessarily use that as a stick with

Which you make no flies on him but he’s been put in Fairly short I like I like deapo I like him as a horse U I thought he he ran a remarkable race in the farction hle to get us close he did to St whats up darling H he was kind of

Kind of strange race he kind of he was up he was jumping out to the right and then he led then he kind of made a bad mistake he Dro back to last and the back straight and then stayed on again one by or was went down by a neck and then last

Time he was given a nice break by Gard ell after that and brought back at leopardon last time and I I thought he was very good in winning that day like he beat he beat Ashdale Bob who was dropping down in trip but that kind of

Trip two and a quarter two and a half probably more Ashdale Bobs trip than three miles and he he he always traveled like the most likely winner he picked up well when then Gilligan asked him to he went to the line strongly I thought I thought it was it was a comprehensive

Performance and I just thought he had a bit more in hand than the winning margin he’s probably going to have to improve again but he’s only had three runs over hurdle so I think he can improve again and yeah I I think he should probably be

A bit shorter in the market than he is I actually agree with you f there was actually did he Decap one I actually thought he might have a tough enough ask to beat Ashdale Bob off level W that day like Ashdale Bob um kind of a grade one

Grade one place performing way I supp at at’s pump um but yeah really kind of polished performance that day and looks like a kind of an up and cominging five-year-old there for Gord Ed and Jack Kennedy so hour was out side which there I like to c one here but no fights on

Him I suppose no joke if if he can bounce back um to his best form from from to form he was in LEP down that day he looks like a a smar prospect well for Ed gr but we’ll go on to the 345 there another great two noice this one over

Two miles miror west I suppose has been overall disappointing for w Wen so far this season um last seen beaten in a a grade tree the week before CH M wal takes right on him BR Hayes gets the ride on Western Diego and I thought an interesting one on the same colors in

The Clipper Logistics colors for Pat fat sporting Glory actually won his bumper only back in February as an eight-year-old and goes in um first time over heard straight integr to contest so kind of shows what they think of him I suppose he was second to form yulio in a

Fairy house bumper as well back in January and that form was obviously Frank massively in Cham but just maybe want to get keep an eye on at a massive price here our street one um he must be doting fairly well at home I suppose it’s a in here done yeah he’s

Interesting all right like I I was kind of using him like the fact that he he he won his bumper next time and beat Sky L like he battled on well to beat him I was kind of using that as as an enhancement for Romeo kio’s form going

Into Shel and again Romeo culio as you say and St for he ran a big race in Cham so yeah wouldn’t discount him at all Michael silan taking the ride for Pat fah in those S logistic colors um thought Western Diego was good at fairy

House I thought he kept on well the last say and I was interested to see who Paul T was going to ride so the fact that he’s chosen to ride tader that’s obviously significant he’s only had the one run over hurdles um having been campaign on the flat in France um he won

Well that day he kept on and one won nicely enough again probably won with with more in hand on the winning margin so look just it’s hard to know what to do with that or how he’s going to be or how he’s going to progress and that he’s

Probably going to have to improve if he’s going to win a grade two race but the fact that all chose chosen to ride him that’s obviously significant and yeah mizar West like’s he’s he’s f h FY H’s brother obviously came before he met the race track at all he was

High-profile so and he probably hasn’t run up to that to his pedigree yet and yeah he was well beaten by Fun Fun the last day probably wasn’t his running and he did win his made hard at Fair on heavy ground similar condition s the conditions he’s G to encounter so um I I

Wouldn’t give up on him yet but it’s been put in pretty short I think for all of that yeah he he’ll definitely have to bounce back and like you said then there’s a few in here that will put it right up to my S it’s Lo bit maybe a

Little bit quarky this year I thought last year as a bumper horse looked a bit more straightforward but um definitely as those walk I think for hollow was the same so it’s probably no big surprise there but yeah t very interesting for takes the right on him but I might take

A small chance and Sport sporting Lory each way just have Romeo Coolio for um and the fact he’s shown in here in to first time out he must be going fairly well schooling wise but we’re going to the 4 55 there the willow War Gold Cup

Another great one contest on the day and it’s blood Destiny versus spance Tower Round Tree I suppose um it imagine the conditions of this one is going to suit splan Tower better though um I think last time they met it was over two miles and splan Tower was getting seven pounds

Blood Destiny they’re off levels here over the two mile Four I think that’s going to play into the hands of Jimmy magin six-year-old I think Jimmy had his um first grade one success in this race 16 years ago conic castle and I wouldn’t be surprised to see spance Tower do it again

Yeah we’re singing up the same him she yeah I like L Tower I think all exactly as you said there I think the like when they met over nearly two and a half WIS of punch 10 the last day back in J sorry on the penultimate run so round one of

Their private jeel blood Desy looked like he had him he looked a likely winner he traded at 1.0 something in running like very short and spaner from me outstate and he just Mark Walsh got a tune out stayed on on the far side and he was given him a couple of pounds that

Day as well I think so and then to go on to as as well as the drop down and trip they went no pace through the early part of the race of sexuals tell us that it was a slow pace it didn’t suit spam s

Blood des and he got a lovely run into the race and was produced to use his turn of foot by Paul townend and move on from flanking maneuver around at the second last and Balan thir just couldn’t get to him and he made a mistake at the

Last as well which wasn’t ideal but I think back up in trip um into a stronger race in which they’ll probably be I mean it’s a small enough field but they’ll probably be a faster pace and yeah I I think that’s all in Span star’s favor he

He goes well on heavy ground as well he goes well right-handed too and yeah I when when they open betting for this they put they put blood Destin as favorite I was surprised at that I thought that as banar in his favorite and I think they might they might switch

Actually before the off so yeah I’m lar fan and this at at the trip and and on the ground yeah yeah I wouldn’t be surprised at all I was very surprised as well Desy was favorite in the year like just the conditions of the race compared to the last time you’d imagine it’s

Going to be way more in the favor of Jimmy mang skelling but suppos just mentioned a couple of doen their tactical move I think um he’s out of a sister of probably the best or out of a sister Den man and probably the best named dam in the country Den woman I

Thought that was a a great name for her but he was he was good last twice as well um I think he’s had plenty of problems for mornings but um he’s kind of getting back on track now but I can’t really see him put up I think he’s a

Real progressor for us and the skip CH when this year I I take taken the patient approach with him and um to probably pay off in the future a really Class C Ming back with another Top Class horse we on to Monday’s action then I

Think we’ll start sorry I me go to fairy house on Monday um we’ll go we start with the national I think um which is the obviously the feature race of the weekend um I suppose look maybe a little bit surprising the race hasn’t filled but like on look at the positive side of

It um a real kind of spread of trainers being represented I think there’s is there 15 or 16 different trainers with hor in there at the moment um ground looking like it’s going to be a real war of attrition out there um got saw some calls from a few different

Trainers a couple of here in here might um be doubtful SS like desmore house I think Mar RZ was hoping the ground would try up a lot for him before it before um he declares him tomorrow but Nick Rocket’s in here ear wiy Mullins I suppose he was eye catcher last time um

In and they skipped the naal one chase a chelum I suppose this was the main target for um in here but I um leave you talk through this one a small bit um do you have any kind of major fence you here yeah look it’s uh look the AR

National it’s a great race and yeah Tom Gibney has intense Raffles in there Tom Gibney of course won with Le the Barney back in 2012 I think he was a shock winner that day uh wasn’t a ni a shock to Tom actually but uh was a shock to

Everybody else be um but intense Raffles is a really interesting horse isn’t he like he he’s his first horse for Simon and Isaac SW it’s great to see with a horse for for those big owners and he was good on his St his Irish tip and he

Woned fairest and he in fact stepped up in trip and again was good again in winning beating it was only a three horse race in the end but there were good horses that he beat and it was more the manner of it I thought the way that

He jumped the way that he extended and the ease with which he did it the handicapper gave by Mark 140 for that he was he was 127 going into that race so I I think it’s it’s very difficult to put a rating on him isn’t it 140 he could be

Better than that or he might not be up to it but it’s difficult to know um I think they were saying they thought he was quite well well in the first day Bas and he’s going to already French for him but um yeah it’s hard to know I suppose

It was kind of a shot in the de and kind of fell AP but the fact that he jumped the fair house fences so well on soft ground that’s a massive bus he’s only six um sixy olds don’t have a great record in the race but not many try not

Many sixy olds are running the race think I deil was six when he finished third B said one as a six-year old as well um but I’m just concerned about his weight like so you spoke about non Runners there em the weights are going to they were going to go up six pounds

If far Del stayed in so he’s he’s on 116 but I think Gordon said yesterday that he’s going to run through to at Liverpool instead so they’re going to go up 11 pounds and that’s a finale ker stays in so 11 like they’re all all these like these horses they’re all

Going to go up like a t Raffles now is going to have um 114 yeah man is going to have the same 114 Archer is going to go up to I think 111 like these horses they’re all going to have more weight than we thought they would have and um it’s like history

Tells you it’s hard to win an Irish National with a big weight since especially on this ground I suppose it could add to that again yeah yeah like since fashion St won at 95 with 12 stone only four horses have won it with 11 stone or more um and that look it’s you

Know maybe it’ll be different this year because all the kind of fancy horses are up around that level but you know there might be one or two lurkers down below and you know weight yeah you have to accept because history tells us that weight is a factor in the Irish Grand

Nation you do have to start at the bottom of the handicap to start working your way up and it’s only the kind of that you know aruk gold copor Ki Court Bobby Joe a Grand National winner I am Maximus it’s only those type of horses who have carried 11 stone or more to

Victory in the Irish National so it’s it’s a factor that you have to take into account and I’m not certain that the market has fully taken it into account yeah um yeah man was was very good at ha out the last day he stepped up and

Tripped to three and a half miles and it looked like he would improve for a greater stamina test which was runs at Ascot over exactly three miles on good ground and he he really saw at the trip well he beat by Silver Lining she’d won

The classic Chas at or at Mor so um that was a big stay performance from y man he’s off at seven pounds an Irish Mark at seven pounds higher than the British Markov which he won that day so he’s still feasibly handicapped uh just a

Seveny old as well and I think Tom or G K’s other horse arter Dart he’s interesting he I thought he he improved for the step up and trip the last day when he won the lens National he stayed on well as well now he’s got another

Five FS to go now but he did stay stay on well the last day he shape as if he might he might well get get further so and he’s he’s an improving horse as well he’s only seven2 he’s nine pounds higher than he was that day but again he’s

Going to have 11 stone one I think if if the weights do go up 11 pounds um and then F further the Waits I think we’ll have one I we it under the radar he’s only run four times over fences he won he won a a really competitive

Handicap hdle over three mil and one for Naan back before Christmas and then the last day he sent off five to four shot for the Grand National trial of punches set and lo looked a likely winner he was just he was he was beaten at the end of

Where it All Began but he traveled well and he he and and D Bo and where it all began went clear on the run with the second last he just kind of faded from there but his hurdles Mar is I think it’s 13 pounds higher than

His Chase Mark and he’s only had those four runs over fences now he is nine but he’s still likely raced over fences and he’s going to have a nice racing way if they do up 11 pounds he’s going to have 10 Stone one which is just into the

Handicap so I I can see him maybe attracting some money closer to the app what are your main thoughts yeah I was interested in we’d have one as well I supp um if take out the disappointment last time but like you said I’m just looking at the weight I’m like looking

Through last couple of even the top three or four in the last couple of renewals like you’re looking for something kind of below the below the thres I I was kind of getting sucked into one up the top of the way um when I was looking at it first another Kakuna I

Thought it kind of had an educational one I think um in the lens St actional last time he was six that day he was a great one winner over hardles and like kind of good in though that staying Harding division so I’d imagine the trip

Will be right up his alley now the way it is the concern like you were saying um for I saw that quote as well he is going to inry according to Gordon yesterday so M kakuno will have to wait um if he shows up here but I thought he

Got an educational right last time lster Nation by Paul town like he had been kind of jumping out and walking out in front in all these Chas out so far but Paul kind have dropped him in the last day and probably be just teaching him a little bit about racing and handicap

Company um 25 to one I wouldn’t be surprised to see him running a big race um but he will have a lot of way to contend with um he actually beat Senior Chief then um in naven actually the last day I think Henry bromad was quite sweet

On his chances but I kept coming back to intense Raffles to be honest for Thomas Gibney look I know he’s probably well found in the mark now around six to one but like you said he’s just kind of a horse with a profile kind of could be

Anything and like you were saying the the handicapper could had to take a bit of a Shar on the deck putting him up was a 134 pound um for that fairy house win last time I think um darl Jacob obviously injured I think JJ S has gotten the roid on um

Intense eff for for Thomas Gibney but look I think he’ll he’ll relish the ground he should stay I don’t see too many negatives about him appar like you said he he is going to go up in the weights a bit but he probably would be

My pick um I do like Yaman as well though for Gavin Cromwell obviously last time in halock he showed he loves the mud um should be a strong sh he’s really lightly erased as well well kind an unexposed type and um could be Gavin could be tar and when Gavin targets one

At a race um he doesn’t really get it too wrong does he yeah yeah he hasn’t won the Irish National yet but you think it’s only a matter of time really before he does um you mentioned jar G ear I think he I think that was his first

Grade one winner wasn’t I she won the on this on this card of this meeting and he’s had he’s had a super season hasn’t he like you said those those two winers chelon um at the festival he other winners earlier in the season at chelon as well I he’s a very very very

Good trainer yeah so he’s to and he a good chance I think yeah man would be my pick if he’s to um could be a progressive seveny old but yeah there’s plenty in there you could you could name I I’d probably stick with intense Raffles maybe a small kind of speculative bet on

M Kakuna just in case he did win um although Logan Logan top weight in that ground it’s going be a really really her ask but um yeah wiy W I think W has a great record on this but nervous is about maybe it’s something to know I

Think have all wi’s windows have been novices um I am Maximus Bor I think oruk wiy but another novice you want noice is do well in here um which might be something else to keep note of um we when look into this one but we’ll we’ll

Move on to the I’m sorry we have to go back in time now because we started with the national Wester 240 to the a really interesting juvenile the grade two contests um speaking of G Cromwell we’ve got no deorations for this yet but um maybe SW the guess Mark but

I’d imagine botler secet will go here he was really impressive winning his um his maiden or sorry it was actually a great Tre contest he won in N first out for gav Gavin um just before CH I think he was kind of tempted to go to the TR pet

I did not kept him for this one um I thought he was really catching that day a really interesting entry in here is what I thought was Jim bers Eastern Legend um entered first time over heard is in a great two contest I think he’s rated around 95 the flat he was actually

Third to botler Secret in a in a flat handicap last last September I think it was um giving him a little bit away that day I think but um would be an interesting one if he is declared here but I think might be botler Secrets race

To lose here um D you were you a fan of him in N that day H yeah very much so I yeah very much so and yeah like the talk of the tri fle it was it was real talk for a little while but like Gavin Cromwell he just decided look take the

Long-term view it was just too quick just too Pi a turn around that was his first run for over 130 days at at at n the last day was obviously it was first run of our hurdles and you can fully understand why they just thought maybe it’s just

Too much to throw him into a time purdle a couple of weeks after winning on his debut over hurdles and look he was a good horse in the flat as well he won that that 10 and a half handicap at nice on his last run for Kieran Murphy got a

Rating of 87 on the flat so that’s a good high rating to take over hles he was very good at winning that grade three race the fact they put him into a great three race on his daily overheard that was significant and yeah would have been would have been interested to see

Him in the tri fle but he skipped that coming on here it’s a grade two race so he’s still stepping up in grade which is what what you want to be doing having won a grade three going to a grade two and yeah it’s a good race for him like

It’s a good spacing it’s what about five weeks since he won the last day so it’s nice it’s a nice time frame as well it’s a nice race for him and yeah we don’t have declarations we don’t have betting but yeah I’d say he’ll probably I’d say

He’ll probably be favorite all right and I think he’s going to take the beting yeah I gu mentions the English F here give me five for Harry D I think he’s intended to come over and he’s owned by Smash racing which a syndicate with I think Brooks queer and grahe McDow are

Bought in there they be nice addition to the fairy house crowd on Monday um if he comes up I’m not sure they be in attendance but nice to see how sending one over but I think Butler SEC very hard to beaten there we give a quick

Mention to two more R in the car obviously no declarations so can I hard to go into it and two Much Death B um the 350 it’s a grade to hurle a couple of old boys in here Stan fange again with our English Raider OE Murphy’s St

Stable solart I suppose Brewing up the storm um I think intending to go over here as well sir jard is in here but he’s been declared in Cork on Sunday so he won’t be showing up in this one I’d imagine if SAR the brave um comes here

Don he could be pretty hard to beat yeah I I was thinking that too Emma um I thought he’d run a way bit better in the champing hurle than he did I know it was champing hurdle but I just thought he would have stayed on a bit better and

Maybe finished third in front of Leia behind stman an Irish point but look he’s you know’s he’s a he’s a high class horse he’s a he’s a a go hurdle winner I think he was the first go with hurdle four-year old go with h winner since AR

Diamond wasn’t 2000 I think it was um so look he’s a classy horse um he beat T something ear as well in in January and she held up held up that for of chelum as well so look he’s he’s he’s a likable horse and he’s only five so again

There’s still plenty of potential upside to him Ashdale Bob is in here as well he hasn’t won in so long but he does run well in the feat and think this two and a half mile trip um probably kind of two mile Four two mile five I don’t think he

Fully sees out for all that he was only just beaten and by classical dream and the stairs H like punches S A couple of years ago but I think this kind of intermediate trip more than more than a stairs trip suits him well and yeah interesting to see how daa goes early on

With a view to maybe AST B going on here but he goes well at the track as well so yeah of the older horses he’d be the one I’d be most interested in um but yeah I think I think Zar the brave is probably

Gonna be the one to beat If he if he lines up here yeah poor as seems to find something to beat I think it’s two two or three years since he’s last win but just to mention last year F also declared in C he’s declared a two grade

Two race on the Sunday so um he won’t he won’t be in this one either but yeah Z ra kind of gets the vot and that one the last CH might have just 20 mention of is the 420 um it’s a great to uh Chase and couple

Of good Rob cor horses here Journey with me and Phil door journey we’ll have to turn around form with as3 middle but I supposed to give a mention to easy game I think he’s won has he won three um or four PWC Champion chases at Goran and

He’s going for the four and row here as well um they probably have to build a statue for either Goran or fairy house if you can get this one done but um it looks probably like a stiff enough task for this year done yeah I think so um

Probably gonna face friendly fire from s s s s lands up here and and he’s I think they have to be like he’s he was a obviously really good juvenile hurdler um and th him a little while but he won well at goway and then he won well at

Gor Park that the Red Mills Chase last time I thought he he jumped well it was it was really soft ground and Rivier Asel was going right-handed as well for her which is the way she wants to go and I just thought he won with plenty in

Hand and um he’s a is always threatened to be like he is good but he had that he had that fall at the sto didn’t he in at the festival from so he didn’t run again after that until he pitched up at Goran park there in sh in the red bills Chase

So I think there’s there’s more to come from him he’s only had nine runs over fences so um he’s he’s just classy likable horse and even when he when he when he ran in the grade one two M OB was Chas punch Festival in 2022 he only

Finished six he’s finished last of six that day behind the St companion blue Lord but he made a pretty bad mistake and I think it was the second last fence bu for which he might have been involved in it so um I think he’s the type of

Horse you know he’s probably um he’s he’s he’s just below the top top grade one horses but he’s got a mark in the 160s and that’s that’s a mark of a high class horse and yeah I think if he runs here he’s have to beat yeah she’ll be

Very very hard to beat here um he can be quite Keen B like you’re saying on ratings he’s ahead of these um easy game easy game rated 161 as well B he’s not getting any younger I suppos to 10y old now so yeah s Sam I think if he’s

Declared here for Willie Mullen should take all the beating but we’ll WRA it up there Don thanks very much S I kept you uh quite a while there but before we finish up I’ll um I’ll ask you for your nap your next best maybe in each way

Shout as well for the weekend uh I think span’s Tower is gonna take an off lot of eating in uh the willow warm Gold Cup um sound like he’s not going to be a m price but I still think he should be favorite in front of blood Destiny uh I

Thought Theo was interesting in the P turdle between a half mile grade two hle on Sunday and each way about I’ll go with we’ll have one in the Irish Grand Nation for all the reasons we were talking earlier very good very good I’m I’m with

You with the nap I think spans Tower as well should be favoring there 7 to4 I think he’s he’s a pretty good bet um my next best is actually going to be one we didn’t mention jumping jet she’s in the 320 mayor C kept chase at fairy house I

Just think a few of her Rivals have question marks about her and she she’s looked tough and Progressive so far and like likes these really testing conditions and my you out I go on the national as well and I go muner despite having to look all that weight I think

Um he’s a really classy horse and he could one a big one for for Winnie Mullen so we wrap it up there Don thanks very much for all your contributions um hope you have a great weekend at the racing um and thanks everyone for tuning

In if you got up a b this weekend make sure to G responsibly back on Tuesday I think to review all of the weekend action with Vincent and JY wards