Racing away from the stands at Fairyhouse© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins both bid to land the Boylesports Irish Grand National for the first time this afternoon but their challenge is being threatened in a very open market by Mall Dini one of three horses disputing favouritism in the half a million euro feature.
The Elliott-trained Monbeg Notorious and Mullins’ Pairofbrowneyes are generally available around the 8/1 mark along with the Pat Kelly-trained Mall Dini.
The Mullins-trained Bellshill who made a successful return to action here last time in the Bobbyjo Chase, is quite weak in the market and has drifted out to 12/1.
The Closutton maestro has a couple of short-priced favourites elsewhere on the card, with Getabird a strong fancy in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle and Un De Sceaux in another Grade 2 event - the Devenish Chase.
Getabird bids to bounce back from a disappointing effort at Cheltenham and is a best-priced 10/11, while Un De Sceaux is also a shade of odds-on.
Elliott has a number of well-backed runners on the afternoon, notably Diamond Cauchois (8/1 into 7/2) in the Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle while Out Sam is popular at 9/2 against stablemate Poormans Hill (4/1 favourite) in the Fred Kenny Lifetime Service To Racing Handicap Chase. Getaway John is another Elliott representative to attract support and is vying for favouritism with Brace Yourself in the Cawley Furniture-sponsored bumper at around 100/30.
Local trainer Eddie Cawley was on the mark yesterday with Nobody Home, and Golden Jewel (8/1 into 7/2) is fancied for the same connections in the opening Farmhouse Foods Novice Handicap Hurdle.
