*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
British raider Royale Pagaille heads the weights as a field of 28 go to post for the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
Despite horses carrying more than 11st having a poor record in the race, the King George runner-up has attracted plenty of support in the market, which is dominated by young chasers including Amirite, Stumptown and Thedevilscoachman.
Racegoers at the County Meath track are denied a maximum line-up for the 17:00 Grade A handicap because Ash Tree Meadow and Fakiera are non-runners
Irish Grand National odds can be found on the Paddy Power website, Paddy Power app or via our snazzy betting widgets, otherwise Timeform’s horse-by-horse guide to the runners are below.
- IRISH GRAND NATIONAL CHEAT SHEET FEATURING PADDY PUNDITS’ BEST BETS
Irish Grand National runners
Royale Pagaille
Trainer: Venetia Williams Jockey: Charlie Deutsch Age: 9 Weight: 11st 12lbs
High-class chaser who was a creditable 14 lengths second to Bravemansgame in King George on his reappearance and once again ran respectably in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month. Will stay this far and the more testing the ground the better.
***
Espanito Bello
Trainer: Barry Connell Jockey: M. J. M. O’Sullivan Age: 9 Weight: 11st 3lbs
7/2, career best when winning 13-runner handicap chase at Naas (24.6f, soft) 29 days ago, cruising clear. Non stayer in this in 2021.
***
Busselton
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: S. Fitzgerald Age: 6 Weight: 11st 1lbs
Latest win in Kerry National at Listowel in September. Off 4 months, 7/2, 18½ lengths fourth of 5 to Any Second Now in Webster Cup Chase at Navan (20.4f, heavy) 21 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Blinkers back on. Not dismissed.
***
I Am Maximus
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 7 Weight: 11st 1lbs
Useful hurdler for Nicky Henderson and smart over fences for this yard, albeit never on terms when 10¾ lengths fourth of 10 to The Real Whacker in Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Broadway) at Cheltenham (24.4f, good to soft, 28/1) 26 days ago. Handicap debut and stamina to prove.
***
Chemical Energy
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Keith Donoghue Age: 7 Weight: 10st 13lbs
Looked one to keep onside when registering back-to-back novice chase victories in the autumn and ran a screamer when 2¾ lengths second of 10 to Gaillard Du Mesnil in National Hunt Chase (8/1) at Cheltenham (29.9f, good to soft) 27 days ago. Can go well again on handicap chase debut.
****
The Goffer
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Denis O’Regan Age: 6 Weight: 10st 13lbs
Has stepped up switched to fences this term, winning valuable event at Leopardstown on handicap debut in February and running well in the Ultima Handicap at Cheltenham (25f, good to soft) 27 days ago, tying up only final 1f. Can go well again.
***
Thedevilscoachman
Trainer: Noel Meade Jockey: M. P. Walsh Age: 7 Weight: 10st 13lbs
Unbeaten over fences this season when completing, landing Grade 3 at Limerick (24.6f, soft, 11/8) 15 days ago, jumping better as the race wore on. Good shout if keeping the mistakes down and his stamina lasts out.
***
Fire Attack
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: Richard Deegan Age: 8 Weight: 10st 9lbs
Successful in Punchestown handicap chase in May but little impact in 3 runs since, off 5 months and 19¾ lengths last of 5 to Any Second Now in Webster Cup Chase at Navan (20.4f, heavy, 6/1) 21 days ago. Prone to mistakes and plenty to prove up in trip.
**
Max Flamingo
Trainer: Francis Casey Jockey: C. D. Maxwell Age: 8 Weight: 10st 8lbs
Latest win in chase at Killarney in May. Thirteenth of 17 in handicap hurdle (28/1) at Leopardstown (24f, good to soft) 65 days ago. Plugged on for seventh off 2 lb higher in this last year. Cheekpieces on 1st time.
***
Dolcita
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: D. E. Mullins Age: 8 Weight: 10st 7lbs
Bounced back to best to win 9-runner listed chase at Clonmel (20.5f, heavy) in November. Well held in Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Liberthine) (25/1) at Cheltenham (20.6f, good to soft) 24 days ago. Significantly up in trip for handicap debut and not sure to stay.
***
Lieutenant Command
Trainer: Noel Meade Jockey: L. A. McKenna Age: 9 Weight: 10st 7lbs
Career best when winning 9-runner handicap chase (18/1) at Leopardstown (21.4f, good) 36 days ago. Up 6 lb in a far more competitive race and not sure to stay this longer trip.
***
Tenzing
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: S. F. O’Keeffe Age: 6 Weight: 10st 7lbs
Low-mileage 6-y-o who tasted success on sole start over hurdles and solid start over fences this term, held in fourth behind Gaillard Du Mesnil in National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham (29.9f, good to soft, 9/1) 27 days ago. Goes handicapping now.
***
Panda Boy
Trainer: Martin Brassil Jockey: R. A. Doyle Age: 7 Weight: 10st 6lbs
Won Punchestown maiden chase in May. Good third to Real Steel in Paddy Power Chase in December but fell fifth when well backed in handicap chase at Leopardstown (21.4f, good, 4/1) 36 days ago won by Lieutenant Command. Should stay this longer trip and interesting.
***
Amirite
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: Rachael Blackmore Age: 7 Weight: 10st 4lbs
Looked a good prospect when making winning chase debut here (21f) in October. Things haven’t gone to plan since, likely to have finished closer still but for a late bump/error at last when third in Naas Grade 3 in January. Remains with potential now handicapping up in trip. Fascinating contender.
*****
Angels Dawn
Trainer: S. Curling Jockey: Phillip Enright Age: 8 Weight: 10st 4lbs
Has progressed with each run since sent chasing, winning the 23-runner Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir at Cheltenham 25 days ago from Stumptown, travelling strongly and battling well. Could have even more to offer and should stay the extra 3 furlongs, so big shout under a penalty.
****
Fairyhill Run
Trainer: John Patrick Ryan Jockey: M. P. O’Connor Age: 8 Weight: 10st 3lbs
Useful chaser who was a good third in C&D handicap chase in November 2021. Has failed to complete the last twice, pulled up at Down Royal (26.2f, soft) 24 days ago. Plenty to find.
**
Punitive
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Corey McGivern Age: 9 Weight: 10st 3lbs
C&D winner in December but not the same force since, below form sixth of 13 in handicap chase at Downpatrick (28.6f, heavy, 16/1) 8 days ago. Hard to fancy.
**
Real Steel
Trainer: Eric McNamara Jockey: C. P. McNamara Age: 10 Weight: 10st 3lbs
Not the top-class chaser he was in his youth but rolled back the years to end a losing run stretching back to January 2020 in the Paddy Power Handicap over Christmas. Held behind The Goffer in handicap chase (20/1) at Leopardstown (21.2f, good to soft) 64 days ago though. First go over this trip.
***
Defi Bleu
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Gavin Peter Brouder Age: 10 Weight: 10st 2lbs
Second in Cork National in November and another good run when 18¾ lengths fifth of 23 to Angels Dawn at Cheltenham (26f, soft, 40/1) 25 days ago. Place claims if on another going day.
***
Birchdale
Trainer: Enda Bolger Jockey: A. P. Kelly Age: 9 Weight: 10st 1lbs
Won valuable Leopardstown handicap in February 2022. Mixed bag this term, pulled up in handicap chase at Leopardstown (21.4f, good, 7/2) 36 days ago won by Lieutenant Command. First go over a marathon trip.
***
Champagne Platinum
Trainer: Enda Bolger Jockey: S. D. Torrens Age: 9 Weight: 10st 1lbs
Off 3 months, 12/1, fourth of 12 in handicap chase at Punchestown (28.2f, good to soft) 50 days ago. Should strip fitter and not disgraced off 3 lb higher in this last year. Interesting outsider.
***
Farceur Du Large
Trainer: Noel Meade Jockey: G. B. Noonan Age: 8 Weight: 10st 1lbs
Latest win in chase at Punchestown in November. Unseated rider first in handicap chase at Naas (24.6f, soft, 12/1) 29 days ago won by Espanito Bello. Headgear removed (has looked clumsy in blinkers the last twice).
**
Now Where Or When
Trainer: Stuart Crawford Jockey: Peter Carberry Age: 8 Weight: 10st 1lbs
Smart chaser who seemed excel himself up in grade when excellent 1½ lengths third of 8 to Kemboy in Bobbyjo Chase here (25.5f, good to soft, 33/1) 44 days ago. Well handicapped if backing that up over this longer trip (goes well at this track).
***
Donkey Years
Trainer: Eric McNamara Jockey: M. M. McDonagh Age: 9 Weight: 10st 0lbs
Won valuable Punchestown handicap chase a year ago. Third in Munster National in October but has failed to complete twice since, running no sort of race at Gowran 74 days ago.
**
Gevrey
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: K. C. Sexton Age: 7 Weight: 10st 0lbs
Won a novice chase at this meeting last year and took another chase at Limerick in October. 125/1, good fourth of 23 in Plate Handicap Chase at Cheltenham (20.6f, soft) 25 days ago, staying on well. Worth a go over this much longer trip but not sure to be in the same form.
***
Milan Native
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: C. G. O’Dwyer Age: 10 Weight: 10st 0lbs
Won the Kim Muir in 2020. 40/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, well-beaten ninth of 13 to Espanito Bello in handicap chase at Naas (24.6f, soft) 29 days ago. Blinkered for 1st time. Has been disappointing for a while.
***
Must Be Obeyed
Trainer: T. Gibney Jockey: D. J. O’Keeffe Age: 7 Weight: 10st 0lbs
Latest win in novice chase here in January. Respectable fourth of 12 in handicap chase at Navan (23.5f, heavy, 11/2) 21 days ago, making a bold bid from the front. Career best needed upped markedly in trip.
***
Stumptown
Trainer: Gavin Patrick Cromwell Jockey: L. P. Dempsey Age: 6 Weight: 10st 0lbs
Latest win in chase at Sandown in February. Good neck second of 23 to Angels Dawn in Kim Muir (7/2) at Cheltenham (26f, soft) 25 days ago, edged out near finish. Progressing well and another bold show likely over this longer trip.
****
Read More on the Irish Grand National 2023
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
- When is the Irish Grand National? Fairyhouse date, start time, runners and betting
- Irish Grand National favourites: Paddy’s leading fancies for 2023 Fairyhouse race
- Irish Grand National trends and statistics for Fairyhouse 5.00 on Monday
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