ROCK AND LOAD
Will’s sights on hat-trick
NICK ROCKETT might give Willie Mullins a third Boylesports Irish Grand National in Fairyhouse.
Ireland’s most valuable chase, a three-mile and five-furlong marathon in heavy ground, will provide a severe test of stamina. But the Closutton gelding looks well-placed to enhance the fine record of novices in a race which has seen five seven-year-olds triumph in the last decade.
A rise of 11lb in the weights leaves Nick Rockett, my long-term fancy for the race, to carry 11-11 (rather than 10-13) as he makes his handicap debut in search of a winner’s prize of €270,000.
Nick Rockett is running for only the fourth time over fences today, but has already shown a liking for Fairyhouse and is the most unexposed among a disappointingly small field of 21.
Winner of a Grade 2 novice hurdle at this meeting last year, Nick Rockett shaped with plenty of promise on his chase debut at this venue in early December, finishing fourth behind Corbetts Cross, Three Card Brag and Monty’s Star.
And he fulfilled that promise when readily brushing aside stable-companion and subsequent dual-scorer Tactical Move on a return to the County Meath venue on New Year’s Day.
Last time, Nick Rockett failed to cope with American Mike in the Grade 3 Ten Up in Navan, the day he struck me as a likely Irish National type.
The seven-year-old jumps soundly and stays well. He’ll need luck in running. He’ll need to overcome his inexperience and shoulder a welter burden. But he’s a classy novice with a huge chance.
Among the main threat to Nick Rockett is French import Intense Raffles, unbeaten in his two starts, both at Fairyhouse, for Tom Gibney, who won this race with Lion Na Bearnai in 2012.
This six-year-old grey won with plenty in hand on both occasions, should cope with this step-up in trip and deserves plenty of respect under J J Slevin, deputising for the injured Daryl Jacob.
Gordon Elliott (right), successful with General
Principle in 2018, runs seven, a squad spear-headed by his Grant National Trial victor Where It All Began, fourth to Inothwayurthinkin in the Kim Muir in Cheltenham last time.
Runner-up in that trial at Punchestown, We’llhavewan is another Mullins contender and, carrying just 10-1, less Kieran Callaghan’s 5lb claim, comes into considerations.
Another lightweight worthy of note is course specialist Where’s Frankie, up 8lb for a last-time-out win over a marathon trip at Leopardstown and a four-time winner on this track.
Now in the veteran category, the Ted Walsh-trained Any Second Now, with a second and third in the Aintree Grand National on his CV, is potentially well-handicapped here off 140, considering he reached a career-high mark of 162 and recorded his last win in the Webster Cup in Navan last spring when rated 160.
And Gavin Cromwell has high hopes for both Hartur D’arc, raised 9lb for his Leinster National win in Naas, and Yeah Man, who bagged the Grand National Trial in Haydock last time, earning a 7lb hike.