Irish Grand National Tips: Blackmore to be the Chief in charge at Fairyhouse

Easter Monday is a day filled with terrific racing action and nowhere more so than at Fairyhouse, where the Irish Grand National takes centre stage.

The big race is due off at 17:00, with 21 runners set to battle it out for the €275,000 top prize at the end of the three-mile-five-furlong spin around Fairyhouse.

We've got some selections to consider for the big one, with Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead fancied to take out the prize.

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, fresh from a stellar time at the Cheltenham Festival, have the market leader in Nick Rockett at 7/2 for the Fairyhouse feature.

The Walk In The Park gelding was fourth behind subsequent National Hunt Cup winner Corbetts Cross over 2m5½f here on his chasing bow in December and won over the same trip next time on New Year's Day before following home American Mike at Navan (3m, heavy) in February in a Grade 2 novice event.

His stablemate Minella Cocooner, the top-weight for this race, was some 13-lengths behind in that race and was only sixth since as Hartur D'arc won the Leinster National at Naas.

Mullins and Townend won this contest last year with I Am Maximus and, having skipped Cheltenham with this target in mind, Nick Rockett is greatly respected despite a hefty enough burden.

Gavin Cromwell's pair, Hartur D'arc and Yeah Man, are solid contenders, with the latter readily winning Haydock's Grand National Trial last month from a 7lb lower mark.

This race has tended to favour up-and-coming chasers of late and, to that end, SENIOR CHIEF gets top billing for the Henry de Bromhead/Rachael Blackmore alliance.

He's having only his fourth chase start. He was third behind Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior over 2m3f at Punchestown in November then second to Minella Cocooner over 3m at Navan in January.

He's 7lb better off with the latter on these terms and has won since at Punchestown (2m7f, heavy) last month, an effort that the placed horses have held up in a good light since, with Klarc Kent just touched off here on Saturday under top-weight in the Ladies National.

Senior Chief promises more now that his stamina is further explored and can give his powerful trainer/jockey combo their first taste of success in this race.

Second choice is WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, one of a seven-strong Gordon Elliott contingent and the pick of Jack Kennedy.

He showed promise last season as a novice and ran as if in need of the outing here over 2m5½f in December on his comeback.

He's run well since, including when second to Intense Raffles, the second-favourite today, over 2m6f here in January.

He then ran out a wide-margin winner of the Grand National Trial at Punchestown (3m3f, heavy) and the manner in which he handled that stamina test bodes really well. He was no match for the runaway duo in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham but still shaped well in fourth and should be a big player over this longer trip from the same mark now as his trainer goes for a second win in this race, following General Principle in 2018.

We'llhavewan was second to Where It All Began at Punchestown and isn't quickly overlooked on the revised terms, but the third pick would be Paul Nolan's DAILY PRESENT.

He won nicely at Down Royal over 3m in January having earlier cut his teeth amongst some good horses in beginners' events at Galway, Naas and Punchestown. He is closely matched with Where It All Began on their Kim Muir runs and has clear scope for further progress if this stamina test proves within his range.