I'm an Irish Grand National jockey riding a 50/1 shot but I really fancy the second favourite to win at Fairyhouse
O'Keeffe is a Cheltenham winner who was won on Galopin Des Champs and is thinking Irish at Fairyhouse
Respected jockey Sean O'Keeffe senses trainer Gavin Cromwell's sensational year will continue by winning the Irish Grand National.
O'Keeffe is a Cheltenham Festival winner who was won on Galopin Des Champs, now he is utterly convinced Cromwell will continue on a burgeoning year which includes Inothewayurthinkin in the Gold Cup and Stumptown in the Cross Country at this year's Cheltenham.
Now O'Keeffe – riding Another Choice – fancies highly touted Now is The Hour to step up and deliver a glorious victory at Fairyhouse.
Punters are expecting a treat after the thrills at Aintree and Ayr in recent weeks.
Speaking to horse racing odds: "In these big chases, a lot can happen. You can go out with a plan but then you have to take it as it comes a lot of the time, a lot can happen with a big field. It's a great start, 30 runners spread across the track. It is a case of getting over the first three and then finding a nice position and getting into the rhythm, it is just another race after that.
"There is a lot of history to the race, you look at the greats that have won it in previous years. There is always new history to the race too, as well as the old videos, that always adds to it.
"Maybe High Class Hero of Willie's he is probably better than what he has shown over fences this year, he got beat the last time out on quick enough ground at Thurles so stepping up, on lovely ground at Fairyhouse, I would say he could be just a bit better than his handicap mark.
"I'd like Gavin Cromwell's horse, Now Is The Hour. He seems to have been lined up for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and he was going to run a really big race when he fell at the second last, there is definitely a big pot in him. If he's been kept fresh with this, he has some form with Captain Cody at Navan who won the Scottish National, so I'd say he could get compensated now in the Irish National."
Here is the full list of Irish Grand National runners and riders:
Better Days Ahead (Rob James)
Quai De Bourbon (Paul Townend)
Johnnywho (Derek O'Connor)
Bioluminescence (Keith Donoghue)
Harry Des Ongrais (Rachael Blackmore)
Duffle Coat (Alex Harvey)
Favori De Champdou (Danny Gilligan)
Search For Glory (Sam Ewing)
Sequestered (Jack Gilligan)
Desertmore House (JJ Slevin)
Malina Girl (Sean Flanagan)
Panda Boy (Ricky Doyle)
Yeah Man (Kieren Buckley)
Haiti Couleurs (Sean Bowen)
Now Is The Hour (Conor Stone-Walsh)
Shecouldbeanything (Jordan Gainford)
Sa Majeste (Simon Torrens)
Any Second Now (Mark Walsh)
Lord Lariat (Paddy O'Hanlon)
Stuzzikini (Gearoid Brouder)
Tullybeg (TP Harney)
Daily Present (Aidan Kelly)
Mint Boy (Kevin Sexton)
Dunboyne (Donagh Meyler)
Final Orders (Patrck O'Brien)
Kinturk Kalanisi (Darragh O'Keeffe)
Bushmans Pass (Philip Enright)
Moonovercloon (Ben Harvey)
Hasthing (Brian Hayes)
Noble Birth (Daniel King)
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