Kevin Blake's Irish Grand National tips including 1-2-3-4 and 16-1 each-way pick
ITV Racing expert Kevin Blake has predicted a strong showing from a 16-1 outsider in the Irish Grand National.
The favourite, Haiti Couleurs, trained by Rebecca Curtis, is priced at 5-1 after a field of 30 was declared for the Easter Monday showpiece at Fairyhouse.
Haiti Couleurs has an impressive recent record, winning three out of four outings over fences, with the novice firing Curtis back into the big time in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.
However, Blake suspects Haiti Couleurs will fall short as he tipped 10-1 shot Johnnywho for victory. This British gelding, trained by Jonjo and AJ O'Neill, demonstrated promising form at Cheltenham, narrowly missing out on first place in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase due to a mistake at the final hurdle.
Blake told Betfair: "While the handicapper has had his say with a 6lb rise, that was just his fifth start over fences and with this even longer trip being likely to suit, he could well be up to defying that rise with another big performance."
Blake did acknowledge the potential of Haiti Couleurs, saying: "This course, distance and ground should all play to his strengths and with him just having had four runs over fences, he remains open to enough improvement to make him of serious interest in this highly-competitive contest."
The Gordon Elliott-trained Will Do (16-1) could offer the best value following some promising form.
Blake said: "The eight-year-old has yet to win over fences, but he has been thrown in at the deep end in very competitive handicap chases, finishing second in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown and a fine third in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
"Because of the differences between the British and Irish marks, he now finds himself 7lb better off with Haiti Couleurs, which reads well for his cause."
Blake's top four is completed by Kinturk Kalanisi (11-1), trained by Tom Gibney. He added: "The seven-year-old shaped well in his first few starts over fences and he was in the process of running a very big race on his handicap chase debut in the Leinster National at Naas only to unseat his rider at the second-last fence.
"The handicapper left him alone after that and with this longer trip seeming likely to suit him, a big run would not surprise."
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