A verdict for Jury

JURY DUTY can send the bookies down in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday.

Gordon Elliott’s eight-year-old was unseated in the Aintree Grand National, which was won by stablemate Tiger Roll earlier this month.

He was ridden on that occasion by Robbie Power, who opted to take his chance on Jury Duty over Jessica Harrington’s Magic Of Light who went on to finish second at big odds. Power, who won the 2017 Irish National on Our Duke, again takes the ride on Monday.

With a clean round of jumping, Jury Duty should go very close for Elliott, who is responsible for 12 of the runners.

The Meath handler claimed this contest with General Principle 12 months ago and he runs again here, but conditions look set to be very different this time around.

Willie Mullins also has a strong team, with BURROWS SAINT and PAIROFBROWNEYES looking to be his leading two hopes as he bids to win the race for the first time.

Isleofhopendreams was second last year, but the ground is against him this time.

One horse who will be suited by conditions is MINELLA ROCCO, but he has been pulled up in his last two starts.

If running to anywhere near the level of form he showed when second in the 2017 Gold Cup on good ground, he will be bang on here.

Champion trainer Mullins has a number of entries in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final, also at Fairyhouse, tomorrow.

But the unbeaten HONEYSUCKLE looks like she will be very tough to beat for trainer Henry de Bromhead.

The Ryanair Gold Cup looked like being a cracking contest until the final declarations were revealed yesterday.

Just five go to post for it and WINTER ESCAPE looks the pick of them.

He put in a below par performance last time out behind La Bague Au Roi, but the form of his Punchestown win in January makes him a serious contender as second that day A Plus Tard scored at the Cheltenham Festival.

And in the big race at Musselburgh today, I fancy ARTARMON to run well for trainer Michael Bell.

One of only two course and distance winners in the field, this will be his first run of the season after a busy campaign last year.

But he has won four of his last six starts and could run a big race at a decent price under Paul Hanagan.