Horse Racing Tips: Paddy Power’s Irish Grand National cheat sheet

I was a little more confident about Gaillard Du Mesnil under the old rules when he would have carried 5lb less. That will make it more difficult for him. He has the right profile and ran a cracking race behind L’Homme Presse at Cheltenham and will love the extra distance of this 3m 5f trip.

Death Duty ran well in the Ultima Chase at Cheltenham but unseated early in the Aintree Grand National and that could be a blessing in disguise. He looks a major each-way player to me.

Enjoy Dallen was purchased by JP McManus prior to running in the big race at Aintree,  he finished third in this race last year and is only 6lbs higher this time around.  he only got as far as the first at Aintree so hopefully is none the worse for that.

Farclas was saved for this and connections have opted for a 5lb claimer. Gordon Elliot has secured the services of Shane Fitzgerald for this lad and Rob James for Run Wild Fred. I think Rob James’ mount has to be respected as he was strongly fancied for Aintree until he unseated Davy Russell at the canal turn first time around.

I like the chances of Farclas and Enjoy Dallen but Run Wild Fred is my pick for the Irish Grand National.

This might be the day for SCHOOL BOY HOURS for Noel Meade and the excellent Sean Flanagan. My selection has a lovely racing weight of 10st 10lb and returned this season with a fabulous success in the brilliant Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown.

Since then he was about to run a huge race at Cheltenham in the Kim Muir before stumbling badly four out and eventually being pulled up. Big each-way chance.

The first one I’m going to go for is Gordon Elliot’s horse, Fakir D’alene. Carries 10st 11lb off a mark of 143 but Harry Swan takes off 7lb. Was an excellent 4th in the Kim Muir where Swan rode him and is completely unexposed over staying trips. I’ll have him each way.

The other one is an old pal who let us down slightly in the Kim Muir, Mister Fogpatches. Danny Mullins is back up and I think that’s a positive as he didn’t jump well in the Kim Muir for Patrick Mullins when finishing 6th. Another one to play each way.

TIME TO GET UP won the 2021 Midlands National and was a creditable third in the same race again last month off a higher mark. With few miles on the clock, he has all the qualities to win an Irish National and gets the vote.

Gaillard du Mesnil got no luck at Cheltenham and surely has a big prize over fences in him. Full Time Score is another lightly-raced chaser who also ticks plenty of the right boxes. Velvet Elvis and Farclas, the pick of eleven runners for Gordon Elliott, are also respected.