Far from the dash and colour of the race itself the complexion of Easter Monday’s Boylesports Irish Grand National will also be shaped by Tote computer experts whose work has allowed a reserve system to be put in place for this holiday weekend’s €275,000 feature at Fairyhouse.
The Tote’s inability to technically cater for more than 30 horses in a race had previously ruled out reserves for Ireland’s most coveted steeplechase despite final declarations taking place three days beforehand on Good Friday.
Final declarations will again take place this Friday but the capacity to cater for three reserves in addition to a maximum field of 30 runners means any non-runner can be replaced by a reserve up to 10am on Sunday.
That will allow the final field to be known more than 24 hours before the race.
“We had a reserve system in place once before, in 2011, but that was when problems with the track meant we were reduced to a maximum of 25 horses.
“The first reserve that year was Beautiful Sound who’d run well at Cheltenham and was the antepost favourite. But he didn’t get in, and it was only an hour before the first race that day that he was confirmed a non-runner which made a mockery of antepost betting,” explained the Fairyhouse manager Peter Roe.
“Previously the Tote couldn’t cope with more than 30 names but that’s been ironed out so on Good Friday, 30 horses, plus three reserves, will be declared. And should for any reason there be a non-runner over the weekend, reserves can be declared in their place up to 10am on Sunday morning,” he added.
Holiday timetable
The normal declaration stage is always affected by the Easter holiday timetable and once again the five-day forfeit stage for the National will take place on Wednesday, just two days before final declarations, with this year a further element introduced by reserves potentially getting a place in the field up to Sunday morning.
However, Roe ruled out moving final declarations for Monday’s card to Sunday as would normally be the case.
“The profile the race gets means we get maximum publicity by having a final field declared on Good Friday. It helps make the Irish National Ireland’s most watched race in terms of TV audience. And any changes to the final field are usually minimal anyway,” he said.
The shape of Monday’s big race will also be defined by which horse carries top weight and with the current top-rated horse, Don Cossack, set to swerve Fairyhouse in favour of Aintree’s Bowl three days later, a lot of focus will be on who will carry the ‘No 1’ saddle-cloth.
The Philip Hobbs-trained, and JP McManus-owned, If In Doubt, is currently fifth in the long-handicap and remains a possible traveller from Britain.
"He could take his chance for Philip Hobbs although if the ground is soft, it could be Roi Du Mee [currently joint-second top weight on 11st] who is top," Roe commented.
“Most people will wait until Wednesday and look at what’s left in before deciding what to do.”
Ground conditions at Fairyhouse are currently “soft” with up to 15mms more rain forecast for the Ratoath area before Thursday.
“If we get all that, it could be soft, soft-to-heavy, by Thursday but then we’re told it will be dry for the weekend so I can see perfect jumping conditions for the National,” Roe added.
Ryanair Gold Cup
Sunday’s Fairyhouse feature is the Ryanair
Gold Cup
, formerly the Powers Gold Cup, and one of a trio of €100,000 prizes on the card.
The brilliant 15-length JLT winner Vautour, Ireland's top-rated steeplechaser on a mark of 171 after his Cheltenham heroics, remains an entry and trainer Willie Mullins is postponing a decision on whether or not the star attraction will line up until later this week.
Other Ryanair possibles include The Tullow Tank and the Grade One winner Clarcam who is owned by the big-race sponsor, Michael O’Leary.
Mullins’s unbeaten Morning Run also remains in contention for Sunday’s other Grade One, the Irish Stallion Farms Mares Novice Hurdle.
She is one of five entries the champion trainer has in the race ahead of today’s forfeit stage.
