Irish Grand National tips including 1-2-3-4 and 16-1 EW shot from ITV expert
The Irish Grand National takes place on Easter Monday, and a maximum field of 30 will go to post for the Fairyhouse feature, with Haiti Couleurs the 5-1 favourite
An ITV Racing expert has predicted a standout showing from a 16-1 outsider in the Irish Grand National. Rebecca Curtis’s victor at the Cheltenham Festival, Haiti Couleurs, goes into the race as the clear favourite at 5-1 following confirmation of the 30-strong field for the Easter Monday spectacular at Fairyhouse.
With three victories in four steeplechase starts, the eight-year-old talent has propelled Curtis back into contention in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. But ITV tipster Kevin Blake believes Haiti Couleurs will be beaten, as he went for 10-1 chance Johnnywho.
This contender nearly lived up to his top billing in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at Cheltenham until a late error relegated him to runner-up behind Daily Present.
Giving his insights to Betfair, Blake said: “A British raider that brings Cheltenham Festival form to the table is the Jonjo and A J O’Neill-trained Johnnywho.
“While the handicapper has had his say with a 6lb rise, that was just his fifth start over fences and with this even longer trip being likely to suit, he could well be up to defying that rise with another big performance.”
Blake isn’t dismissing Haiti Couleurs altogether. He said: “This course, distance and ground should all play to his strengths and with him just having had four runs over fences, he remains open to enough improvement to make him of serious interest in this highly-competitive contest.”
The best each-way value could be found in the Gordon Elliott-trained Will Do (16-1), who has shown promising form. Blake said: “The eight-year-old has yet to win over fences, but he has been thrown in at the deep end in very competitive handicap chases, finishing second in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown and a fine third in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
“Because of the differences between the British and Irish marks, he now finds himself 7lb better off with Haiti Couleurs, which reads well for his cause.”
Completing Blake’s top four is Kinturk Kalanisi (11-1), trained by Tom Gibney. Blake commented: “The seven-year-old shaped well in his first few starts over fences and he was in the process of running a very big race on his handicap chase debut in the Leinster National at Naas only to unseat his rider at the second-last fence.
“The handicapper left him alone after that and with this longer trip seeming likely to suit him, a big run would not surprise.”
Kevin Blake’s 1-2-3-4 for the Irish Grand National
- Johnnywho
- Haiti Couleurs
- Will Do
- Kinturk Kalanisi
