Latest news with #KimMuirHandicapChase
Irish Daily Mirror
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Which horses is JP McManus running in the 2025 Irish Grand National?
JP McManus runs four horses in this year's BoyleSports Irish Grand National as he chases another victory in the historic race. The Limerick businessman last won the race in 2023 when the Willie Mullins-trained I Am Maximus triumphed before winning the Aintree Grand National the following season. Last year McManus' Any Second Now finished second in the race behind only Intense Raffles. And the Ted Walsh-trained gelding is back at Fairyhouse for another crack at the famous race at the grand old age of 13. McManus will be hoping that Sa Majeste continues his upward trajectory in the big race. The Mullins-trained gelding ran really well to finish third in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time out. McManus teamed up with Jonjo O'Neill to win the 2014 Irish Grand National with Shutthefrontdoor, and they are running Johnnywho in this year's edition. In the race that Sa Majeste finished third, Johnnywho was a very unlucky loser. He looked to have the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at his mercy but a poor jump at the last cost him the race. The Irish Grand National would be a great consolation, though. Finally, Mullins has progressive mare Bioluminescence running in his famous green and gold silks. The Gavin Cromwell-trained mare has taken to fences really well and will relish any rain that falls at Fairyhouse. Last time out Bioluminescence was second to Spindleberry at the Meath venue, who won a Grade 1 novice chase on Sunday. In total, then, McManus runs Any Second Now, Sa Majeste, Johnnywho and Bioluminescence in the big race.
Irish Daily Mirror
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Which horses is Willie Mullins running in the 2025 Irish Grand National?
Willie Mullins runs horses in this year's BoyleSports Irish Grand National as he seeks to win the race for the third time. The Carlow handler had to wait a long time to taste victory in the Fairyhouse race. Burrows Saint, steered by Ruby Walsh, obliged in 2019 to the delight of favourite backers. And he only had to wait four years for his next victory. In 2023, I Am Maximus was an impressive winner before going on to win the Aintree Grand National the following year. This time around, Mullins, who is also chasing the UK trainers' championship, has a relatively small squad for the race. His team is headlined by Quai De Bourbon, who will be ridden by his number one stable jockey Paul Townend. Quai De Bourbon has not completed the course on his last two starts - falling and unseating - but looks like a classy sort that could develop into a Grade 1 chaser. Mullins also runs the JP McManus-owned Sa Majeste, who was last seen running a cracker to finish third in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Sa Majeste will be the ride of Simon Torrens in the big race.
Irish Daily Mirror
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
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."
