Former jockey Robbie Power shares his tip for the Irish Grand National
Former jockey Robbie Power believes that the Irish Grand National has risen back to prominence…
The jockey, who has strong family connections in Wexford, has fond memories of the Irish Grand National. It’s one of the biggest sporting events on the calendar. Speaking to Wexford Weekly, he said:
“It’s a huge event. When I was a kid growing up, the BoyleSports Irish Grand National was always the race you looked forward to.
For a while it lost its popularity and importance in the calendar but thanks to the sponsorship of BoyleSports and the race now worth €500,000, the richest chase in Ireland, it is well deserved and a great race to win.
It’s coming back to prominence. This year with Easter being early, the Grand National falls on April Fools Day so it is going to be a lucky joke for someone. It is particularly early this year, before Aintree and two weeks after Cheltenham so it might have affected it a little bit as there are only 33 runners in it at the moment.
So there is the danger that it might not fill this year, which would be very unusual for an Irish Grand National.”
Like with all sports, you need your best assets in best condition and in the best form. Horse-racing is similar. To win the Grand National, Robbie knows that you need a horse that jumps well to be successful:
“They need to be a very good horse for a start, and one that can jump really well and that can travel really well, they need a high cruising speed and need to have the stamina to stay for three-and-a-half miles as well.
Novices have a good record, they creep in under the handicappers radar a little bit and this year’s race will be no exception.
Jumping is key. You start off in the corner, it’s two full circuits of the track. You have three fences on the run up to Ballyhack and then when you get to Ballyhack, you have three more fences in a straight line then three more to bring you back towards the straight, and then another three in the straight so every time you turn a corner, there are three fences in front of you.
You need a horse that jumps really well to be successful around Fairyhouse,” he said.
Although many people and the bookmakers are tipping Wille Mullins’ horse, Robbie Power is not. Instead, he’s going for Henry de Bromhead’s runner to win the race:
“I think Willie’s horse (Nick Rockett) is the right favourite. He is a novice, only had three runs over fences and has beaten Tactical Move, was second to American Mike and also beat Cheltenham Festival winner Corbett’s Cross over course and distance at Fairyhouse.
I would think Willie has had this race in the back of his mind for him for a long time. Henry de Bromhead has an interesting runner in the race in Senior Chief, he’s only run three times over fences but has finished third to Gaelic Warrior who won at Cheltenham and a second to Minella Cocooner, so he has some chances and strong form.
They would be the two against the field I’ll be keeping on side. I am respectful of Desertmore House, he’s a decent horse for Martin Brassil and Tom Gibney’s horse, Intense Raffles, he has won twice around Fairyhouse.
There’s four runners I would take against the field and that are of interest but my preference? I will stick with my own team with Senior Chief. This race will bring out the best in him, this has been the plan for him all season.
It is a big field and you need plenty of luck. Digby was fourth, though well beaten at Navan and before that was a very good second to Klassical Dream at Thurles so he is a novice with some good form and has a nice weight.
Dermot McLoughlin (Digby’s trainer) knows what it takes to win one, it is unusual for a horse rated 128 to have a spot in the National but this year it seems different, Digby is definitely getting a run off a light weight.”
Robbie Power’s tip Senior Chief is currently at 12/1 in the bookies and given his knowledge, it’s probably worth a punt.
In conjunction with BoyleSports, who offer the latest Irish Grand National betting, Robbie Power was speaking to Wexford Weekly ahead of the Irish Grand National which takes place on Easter Monday.
