No shortage of dangers but Cork challenger Showurappreciation can conquer Irish National
OUT IN FRONT: Showurappreciation and Derek O'Connor win the Sky Bet Extra Places Amateur National (Q.R.) Handicap Steeplechase. Pic: Healy Racing Photo.
Showurappreciation has decent each-way claims in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
Trained by shrewd Cork handler Jonathan Sweeney, Showurappreciation has been in cracking form of late, winning each of his last three starts, the second leg over hurdles.
His most recent success came at Navan last month where he showed a good attitude to peg back Kish Bank before winning going away.
One of five JP McManus-owned runners, the fact Mark Walsh has opted to partner the eight-year-old has to be viewed as a positive for his prospects.
A light racing weight of 10st 7lb is a further plus and he may be able to give his veteran jockey a belated first Irish National success.
This being the Irish National, there are no shortage of potential dangers.
Of those towards the head of the market, the Emmet Mullins-trained Soldier In Milan makes the greatest appeal.
A bumper winner last May, Soldier In Milan has taken well to fences this season, finishing fourth in a bunch finish at Gowran Park on Thyestes Chase day before getting off the mark when getting the better of Kiss Will at Punchestown in February.
He disappointed when sent off the 11-8 favourite for a Thurles Grade Three last time out but the expectation is this stamina test will bring about significant improvement. Should that prove the case, he’s a big player.
The Irish National went for export last year when Haiti Couleurs landed the spoils for Rebecca Curtis and the UK challenge again looks strong this year around.
The Jukebox Kid has won three of his four starts over fences, most recently scoring in an Ascot Grade Two over three miles, a performance that suggested stamina won’t be a problem for the Ben Pauling-trained seven-year-old.
The James Owen-trained One Big Bang, third in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last time out, is another UK runner who warrants consideration.
Title rivals Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott run 13 of the 30 runners between them and the fact that Paul Townend is on Kiss Will suggests he regards him as the best of the Closutton contenders.
However, he remains winless in four starts over fences and that has to temper enthusiasm.
Argento Boy is another leading Closutton contender but the fact stablemate Joystick, who finished one place in front of him when down the field in the Brown Advisory, is three times the price makes him a more appealing each-way option.
The Elliott-trained The Enabler is another who could be overpriced at odds of 33-1 in a wide-open contest.
Elsewhere on the card, Kawaboomga looks the one to beat in the Grade Two Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle.
The lightly-raced six-year-old got the better of the talented William Munny in a maiden hurdle at this venue last season and shaped pretty well when a close fourth at Gowran Park in February, his first run for 385 days.
He should strip fitter for that run and is fancied to turn the tables on stablemate Storm Heart.
Willie Mullins also has a strong hand in the Grade Two O'Driscoll's Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle and Proactif is fancied to bounce back from a disappointing run when ninth in the Triumph Hurdle. Naas victor Majolique looks his biggest threat.
The Underwriting Exchange Fairyhouse Chase is the last of the three Grade Twos on the card and Found A Fifty’s younger legs are fancied to get the better of the 12-year-old Energumene.
The Coolmore N.H. Sires Kyprios Handicap Chase is the feature at Cork and The Busy Fool, who ran a fine race when third to Irish National hopeful Goraibhmaithagat at Naas in February, can land the spoils, chiefly at the expense of Sky Lord.
2.05 Arslan
2.40 Proactif
3.15 Shabby Hill
3.50 Kawaboomga (Nap)
4.20 Found A Fifty (NB)
5.00 Showurappreciation
5.40 Union Station
6.10 Charismatic Kid
2.05 Saveforarainyday
2.40 Majolique
3.15 Grann's Boy
3.50 Storm Heart
4.20 Energumene
5.00 Soldier In Milan
5.40 Butch Cassidy
6.10 Jeroboam Machin
1.15 Oaks Soldier
1.50 Only For Our Man
2.25 The Busy Fool
3.00 The Great Unknown
3.35 Hearts And Spades
4.10 Asian Master
4.45 Boundfornowhere
5.20 Tintara
1.15 Strange Currency
1.50 King Bob
2.25 Sky Lord
3.00 Sworn Duty
3.35 Focus Point
4.10 In Excelsis Deo
4.45 Kill Vanhowe
5.20 Wilton Mills Trier
