Four can echo ‘08 National result

After the four-mile National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, Four Commanders’ owner, Michael O’Leary, was quoted as saying that his horse wanted seven miles.

While that was a little tongue-in-cheek, it actually looked as though he was done for stamina up the punishing hill and I believe that the drop back to three miles and five furlongs for Monday’s Irish Grand National will work be in the horse’s favour.

The six-year-old really appreciated the better ground when running a gallant third behind Teaforthree at the Festival, putting up a terrific effort from the front.

He’s always been a super jumper and that will stand him in good stead as he prepares to race with almost 30 rivals in Monday’s feature.

The full brother to Cheltenham Gold Cup and two-time King George winner Kicking King should have plenty of improvement in him and I don’t see any reason why he won’t run a huge race here.

It seems clear from the horse’s campaign that his trainer Mouse Morris has had big end-of-season targets for his charge for some time.

Although this is his first season over fences, he’s already contested seven chases. Perhaps I’m reading this wrong but that indicates to me that the trainer was intent of giving him plenty of experience ahead of an audacious tilt at this race.

Of course another winter on his back and a season out of novice company would be better but there’s also the likelihood that he would be a lot higher up the weights.

He’s gained his experience (and handicap mark) on unsuitably testing ground, with the result that he gets in here on a mark of 136 and a lovely weight of 10-9.

His trainer is adept at getting them right for the big meetings and as the horse hasn’t been punished for a good run at Cheltenham, everything looks to be in place for another huge effort.

The same owner-trainer combination of Gigginstown House Stud and Mouse Morris took the race with Hear The Echo in 2008 and Four Commanders looks precisely the right type for a repeat.