Jack heads heads Fairyhouse weights
English raider Artic Jack heads the weights on 12st for the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National on Monday after 30 horses were today declared for the €112,820 contest.
Sue Smith’s charge, a first fence faller in the Aintree equivalent last Saturday, is one of two British entries alongside Ferdy Murphy’s Granit D’Estruval.
Timbera is on course for a repeat bid in the race he won 12 months ago despite an interrupted preparation while other leading contenders include Native Jack, Xenophon and Ted Walsh’s consistent Never Compromise.
Artic Jack claimed the scalp of Cheltenham Gold Cup aspirant Kingscliff at Haydock in January when landing the Peter Marsh Chase.
The eight-year-old then finished third at the same venue in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup before crashing out at the first last weekend.
Native Jack has been allotted 11st 4lb for the marathon contest and heads into the race seeking a hat-trick of wins.
Arthur Moore’s charge has been successful at Down Royal and Cork on his last two starts but fell in this race 12 months ago.
He is quoted at 8-1 joint-favourite by Paddy Power.
Timbera failed to line up at Aintree after failing to please trainer Dessie Hughes but managed to take this race last year by a head from Knock Knock.
Timbera has been allotted 11st 2lb for the Fairyhouse showpiece while last year’s Coral Cup winner Xenophon, Paddy Power’s other market leader who has yet to win over fences, will have to carry 10st 9lb.
Never Compromise finished a good four-length second to Earthmover in the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase at last month’s Cheltenham Festival.
Trainer Dermot Weld has just one runner in Direct Bearing with Jessica Harrington running Hume Castle and Francis Flood saddling the in-form Lanmire Glen.
Original top weight Le Coudray was taken out at today’s declaration stage.
Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National betting:
Paddy Power: 8-1 Xenophon, Native Jack, 9-1 Hume Castle, Timbera, 12-1 Kadoun, Direct Bearing, Satco Express, Montayral, 14-1 Artic Jack, Colonel Rayburn, Never Compromise, 16-1 Ross Moff, 20-1 Back On Top, Munster, What Odds, 20-1 Bennie’s Pride, 25-1 Golden Storm, 28-1 Colonel Bradley, Good Vintage, 33-1 bar.
Ladbrokes: 9-1 Native Jack, Timbera, Xenophon, 10-1 Hume Castle, Montayral, 12-1 Colonel Rayburn, Direct Bearing, Kadoun, Satco Express, 14-1 Artic Jack, 16-1 Back On Top, Never Compromise, 20-1 Ross Moff, Bennie’s Pride, 25-1 Golden Storm, What Odds, 33-1.
