BoyleSports Irish Grand National (Grade A) 3m 5f 50yds

Latest Exhibition: Quality novice with the ability to make his mark in a major staying handicap. He has found old rival Monkfish too strong on his last two starts but he gave that rival a good test over 3m at Christmas and that top piece of form makes him one of the foremost contenders.

Court Maid: Very smart mare who has enjoyed a fine first season over fences with the obvious highlight being her victory in the Porterstown Chase here in November. She is now 12lbs higher which won’t make life easy, but she comes here fresh off a 115-day break, has conditions to suit and is open to further progress.

Escaria Ten: Has quickly made up into a very smart staying novice this term as evidenced by his second in a decent Grade 3 at Naas which was followed by an excellent third in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. Provided this doesn’t come too soon after Cheltenham he must be considered a contender.

Brahma Bull: Very useful type on his day as he showed when winning a Grade 3 novice chase at Cork last season and also when running a respectable second to Minella Indo at Navan in November. He will enjoy the decent ground but lines up with questions to answer after pulling up in the Thyestes.

Coko Beach: Performed to a decent standard in beginners’ events through the first half of the season before posting an improved effort to win the Thyestes in January and then followed up in a 3m Grade 2 on dire ground at Navan the following month. He has decent claims but slower ground would probably suit.

Mortal: Made a resounding return to form to win a decent 2m 5f handicap chase at Killarney in August but has struggled in a number of big handicaps since then and looks to be up against it.

Home By The Lee: Has progressed into a decent novice this season as evidenced by a Grade 3 win at Cork and a comprehensive success in a smart novice handicap chase at Naas. This is an altogether tougher task and he is 10lbs higher, but he will like the ground and his ability is not in question.

Off You Go: Formerly a top-class handicap hurdler and eventually put it altogether over fences to edge a tight finish to the Leopardstown Chase a couple of months ago. An 8lbs rise for that success doesn’t look too harsh and he has more to give.

Salsaretta: Quality mare on her day but has struggled on her last couple of starts and she is going to have to improve plenty from her showing behind Colreevy at Cheltenham if she is to play a part here.

Espanito Bello: Posted a much improved and impressive effort on his third start over fences when slamming Coko Beach by 18l in a Naas beginners’ event in December. Only for a last fence mistake he might well have had that one’s measure once again in a Navan Grade 2 in February and, as a novice with further room for improvement, he is a likely challenger.

Agusta Gold: Ultra-reliable and consistent mare who looks tailor-made for this test as she numbers a victory in last year’s Punchestown Grand National Trial (over 3m 4f) amongst her previous form, while her Grade 3 defeat of Moyhenna here in early January is another strong piece of form. Handles any ground and has never been out of the first four and could easily maintain that sequence here.

Snugsborough Benny: Ran well to finish fourth in this two years ago and has run well in the last two runnings of the Galway Plate so isn’t one to dismiss, but he doesn’t have the same room for progress as some of his opponents.

The Big Dog: Useful novice who translated his smart beginners’ chase form into a big handicap success when he landed the Grand National Trial at Punchestown in February. The trip is of no concern but he might just need the ground a bit slower to play his part in the finish.

Moyhenna: Lost out by just a nose in September’s Kerry National, got to within ½l of Agusta Gold in a Grade 3 here in January and shaped up well in the National Trial before she was noted doing some good work in the closing stages of the mares’ chase at Cheltenham. All those runs this point to her capacity to run a big race.

Scoir Mear: He is approaching the twilight of his career but is doing so in great form and looked better than ever when defeating Ten Ten to land the Leinster National at Naas last month. His other runs in top handicaps this season point to his ability to show up well despite having to run off a career-high mark.

Enjoy D’Allen: Finished second to Home By The Lee in a decent handicap at Naas in February and probably did better again when beating all bar Stormy Judge in a valuable 3m handicap at Navan last time. Can progress further at this trip and lines up with credible claims.

Discordantly: Very useful on his day as he showed when bolting up in a useful handicap chase at Galway in October and comes here off quite a respectable sixth to Vintage Clouds at Cheltenham. Mightn’t have the same profile as some others but has the capacity to run a big race if things fall right.

Dragon D’Estruval: Useful type who reached a rating of 147 in England last season but he struggled in a Naas hunters’ chase on his debut for this yard in January and a vastly better effort will be needed.

Jerrysback: Very capable on his day and showed good form on his return from well over a year off when third to Dashel Drasher in a decent handicap chase at Ascot in January. He pulled up there the following month though and enthusiasm for his chances is limited.

Run Wild Fred: Emerged as a decent staying novice hurdler last season and has steadily reached a similar level over fences after a couple of very laboured efforts early in the winter. His second in the Thyestes is a good run and gives him prospects provided he can cope with this ground.

Sempo: Useful type over hurdles last term when he finished a creditable sixth in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. He comes here off two respectable efforts over 2m so the dramatic step up in distance should work in his favour and he is a contender.

Ten Ten: Has long appealed as one that could land a good handicap over fences and came close to doing so when chasing home Scoir Mear in the Leinster National at Naas last month. He definitely has more to offer as a chaser and is an interesting runner but this is much the toughest challenge of his career.

Robin De Carlow: Enjoyed a good time of things over fences early last season when she won three of her five starts which culminated in a ½l defeat of Put The Kettle On in a Grade 3 at Tipperary in October 2019. Such an absence from her yard isn’t a concern but this looks a fairly daunting first handicap chase outing.

Atlantic Shore: Useful stayer and hit a nice vein of form earlier this year to win a reasonable 3m 1f handicap chase at Punchestown before returning to that track to land a Pertemps Qualifer a number of weeks later. He pulled up last time though and the drying ground is against him.

Brace Yourself: Other novices in this race might boast stronger credentials but he is a live player based on his second to Court Maid in the Porterstown Chase and even his previous third in a Grade 2 at Punchestown isn’t a bad run. Looks to have been kept fresh for this and a big showing could be in the offing.

Fitzhenry: Hasn’t won a race for over three years but did reach the frame in last season’s Paddy Power and Troytown and caught the eye with a strong third in the recent Leinster National which suggested that he could make his presence felt.

Freewheelin Dylan: Secured a big pot when winning the Midlands National last summer but has found things tougher in better company since then and others look stronger even though the ground is very much in his favour.

Roaring Bull: Inconsistent but very smart on his day as he showed when winning last season’s Paddy Power and when finishing second in the Troytown in November. If he is on a going day he could run well, but that is a big if.

Top Moon: Useful over hurdles and took time to find his feet over fences but a second to A Wave Of The Sea in a good 2m handicap in February was a fine effort. His next run wasn’t of the same standard and the line-up contains more appealing candidates.

Opposites Attract: Promising over hurdles and started off over fences with a couple of decent runs but his last two runs have been on the disappointing side. Lines up with plenty to prove but a decent showing still wouldn’t come as a shock.

Eurobot: Made a winning return in a Thurles beginners’ event in November but has struggled somewhat in better company since then and is passed over even though he will relish this trip. Reserve

Forza Milan: Thorough stayer who boats a strong piece of form in his beginners’ chase defeat of Coko Beach over 2m 5f here in January. He has found things tougher at a higher grade since then and needs a career best to feature. Reserve.

School Boy Hours: Has yet to win over fences and has been a little disappointing on his last couple of runs given what he showed in beginners’ chases earlier in the season. However a good showing wouldn’t come as a huge surprise if he did make the line-up though. Reserve.

The Verdict

A strong edition of this race with quite a few horses boasting attractive profiles. Latest Exhibition has to give weight all round but he is a quality novice and he might just have the class to shoulder his burden to victory.

He could have plenty to fear from Brace Yourself who looks a leading contender. Agusta Gold can be relied upon to run her usual good race while Espanito Bello, Off You Go, Run Wild Fred and Escaria Ten are all more than good enough to make their presence felt.