The Irish Grand National and other races at Fairyhouse Easter Weekend Apr 3rd -5th

The Irish National might be the strongest handicap run in the UK and Ireland this season. Sempo, most peoples idea of a massive plot all season, has now been thrown into the mix and backed from 33s into 8s. He's one of many unexposed horses though. This might be the first time the Irish version is a stronger renewal than Aintree.
 
It might be a stronger race but it won't be a more watchable one.

It will be much more like a very deep Thyestes or, dare I suggest, a very high quality Hennessy/Ladbroke.
 
I'm not disagreeing but none of them tingle the spine like the National does. For me at any rate. The National is a huge deal in my family.
 
If Tiger Roll runs here, people will be going back to the days of Brown Lad and Desert Orchid for comparisons.

If he doesn't, the shape of the race will be completely different.
 
Desert Orchid said:
I'm not disagreeing but none of them tingle the spine like the National does. For me at any rate. The National is a huge deal in my family.
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Aye, doesn’t matter how “good” the race might be, it’s what fires the imagination that counts more in peoples’ perception. You could set up a 100metre race on a balmy night in Zurich that had the top 8 sprinters in the world and it still wouldn’t hold a candle to the Olympic final in peoples’ minds.
 
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I accept Aintree is a great spectacle but the Irish National is without doubt the better race and it's not very close.
 
The Grade 1 on Sunday looks hella tough. I want to take on Asterion at 6/4 but it's no easy task narrowing the field down.
 
Andy dufresne would look to be the obvious one, but the ground might be a bit quick?

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Ground will be very different to what horses have been running on all winter. There is snow forecasted for monday, so who knows. The horse I like at a price - Scarlet and Dove - is unlikely to relish it. Conflated has form on good.
 
I've completed my trawl of the Irish National.

I'm not sure there is any point in arguing about how it compares with the Aintree race as it a completely different kind of race. The Irish race is chock-a-block with potential whereas 'the' Grand National isn't really for such types given the normal ratings bracket.

But this Irish race is an absolute belter of a contest in terms of 'could be anything' contenders.

I put up Top Moon on the longshot thread the other day. It still qualifies with one bookie.

I'm backing it up with Robin De Carlow at a standout 28/1 (5pl) at Bet 365. It's only 14s with PP/Betfair. If anyone can produce one to win a race of this nature first time up after 18 months off it's WP Mullins and Blackmore is arguably the best jockey in the race.

The other one will be Discordantly at nice odds and I'll probably add some rank outsiders at the best terms nearer the time. There's bound to be tons of sneaky value on offer.
 
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