The week of madness is coming to an end, but before we finish, Irish Grand National Day from Fairyhouse is under the microscope.
There were just two selections yesterday, though both failed to return any profit. The form lines for Alien Storm were franked thanks to Hugos New Horse in the fourth race, but he was quite poor, which was strange as he is a Plumpton specialist.
Hasard was running well in the Sussex Champion Hurdle before he was almost stopped in his tracks by the ill-fated Spirit D’Aunou. He would have placed yesterday, so he certainly looks like a well-handicapped horse to watch going forward, maybe even in the Swinton Hurdle.
Anyway, it’s Irish Grand National Day, so let’s dive in.
Irish Grand National Day 2025
2:35 Plumpton – Aucunrisque @ 11/2 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW
Chris Gordon at Plumpton; enough said.
No, but seriously, Aucunrique is a well-handicapped animal in this race, and Charlie Maggs’ 5lb claim in the saddle further boosts the case that he is well-weighted to go nicely.
Yes, it’s roughly 16 months since he jumped a fence in public, but when he did jump the larger obstacles in the 2022-23 season, he finished second to Boothill off level weights and he beat Jetoile in a novice chase at Uttoxeter.
Over hurdles, he has won with ratings of 129, 138, 133, and 117. The former was his most-recent success, so he is just 1lb higher than that effort, and he beat some nice horses at Ascot in November.
Alinam (second) has improved 9lbs since, Mirabad (third) has improved 9lbs, and Break My Soul (fourth) has improved 14lbs thanks to some nice Grade 1 and 3 form in the book.
With two wins, one second, and one third to his name around Plumpton, the course is no issue, and this is the first time he’s getting his preferred good ground since he won at Ascot five months ago.
3:45 Plumpton – Illegal d’Ainay @ 10/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 0.5pt EW
Chris Gordon at Plumpton; enough said.
Plumpton’s target trainer did have two in the 2m4½f novices’ handicap hurdle before Confinentic was declared a non-runner, but before this decision was made, I was still interested in his apparent second string, Illegal d’Ainay.
His last two runs came in slower conditions, so forgiveness is easy to find, though he still finished a respectable third and fourth on both occasions.
The winner from his Windsor run two starts back, Ma Shantou, finished third in the Grade 2 River Don Novices’ Hurdle on his next start to give the form some substance.
As for other bits of form, he went off a well-backed 7/2 when winning a Plumpton novice hurdle over two miles in May. The second, Global Esteem, has won three since, one of those successes saw him beat the useful Dodger Long.
He’s a strong travelling horse who jumps well and likes good ground. Those traits tick plenty of boxes for a contest like this, especially when considering he’s only had five runs under rules, and his course experience is valuable as well.
As an each-way proposition, he looks like a very interesting one.
5:00 Fairyhouse – Search For Glory @ 28/1 with Betfred (6 places) – 0.5pt EW
I’ve had Search For Glory and staying distances in my mind all season, and the Irish Grand National could well be the race to see him at his best.
Funnily enough, the horse first entered my mind when he finished second in the Grade 3 Surehual Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle in 2023. He kept on like a dower stayer behind Monty’s Star (Cheltenham Gold Cup fourth) and Hiddenvalley Lake (Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle winner) that day, so there’s hope he can see out the trip.
He ran a fine race in the Ultima Handicap Chase on his last start, but mistakes at the fourth, second, and last fences (yes, that many) cost him lengths.
Still, he stayed on nicely under Sam Ewing, who interestingly keeps the ride ahead of Gordon Elliott’s other six runners, but better ground in that style of race caught him out.
He’s won on soft, soft to heavy, and heavy ground throughout his career, so the slower conditions are no problem, and his form over fences of beating Sa Majeste (Kim Muir third) and finishing a neck second to Stellar Story (Brown Advisory second) looks good for a horse rated 143.
His run behind Impaire Et Passe and Jordans in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase over 2m3½f has also worked out.
I could see him outrunning his odds.
