It's Irish Grand National day at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday and Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway is back with his best bets on a superb afternoon of jumps racing.
Asterion Forlonge @ 9/4
1pt win
Must Be Obeyed @ 25/1
1pt each-way
Ile Atlantique @ SP
1pt win
The Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle (3.50) features some old favourites and Asterion Forlonge is fancied to return to winning ways on his second run back over hurdles.
Seventh in last season’s Gold Cup at Cheltenham over fences, Asterion Forlonge never looked like a natural chaser.
It’s no surprise that trainer Willie Mullins has sent him back hurdling this season and he should improve. on his showing last time out.
That was his first run over hurdles since March 2020 and he had been away for a year, so there is every reason to believe that he was in need of the outing and he can show the benefit of that.
He has a class edge on his rivals for this 2m4f trip and stable jockey Paul Townend prefers him to stablemate Monkfish, who is partnered by Danny Mullins. It’s worth taking the hint.
The Irish Grand National Chase (5.00) is one of the best races of the entire season and Must Be Obeyed looks like the ideal type for a test like this - she might improve now she is upped in trip at Fairyhouse.
This race is often won by a horse who can get into a good jumping rhythm in front and Must Be Obeyed is just that type of horse.
She is a very sound jumper who likes to race prominently and it would be no surprise if she takes up a significant early lead.
She recorded a career-best Racing Post Rating over 2m71/2f last time and this greater test of stamina and jumping - there are more obstacles over this even longer trip - is in her favour.
She won a novice chase at this course in January, so is evidently suited by this sort of test, and there is every chance she has been aimed at the race since her last win at the track.
I’m expecting plenty more improvement from Must Be Obeyed and she could dominate this.
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Willie Mullins farms bumpers in Ireland and he can land the Leinster Reinforcements & Brazil Piling (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race (6.10) with the promising youngster Ile Atlantique.
The lightly raced five-year-old won well on his Irish debut at Leopardstown over Christmas, but failed to build on that victory when turned over on his latest outing at Naas.
Ile Atlantique travelled like the best horse in that race, but was readily brushed aside by winner Stellar Story.
The front two still pulled clear of the third, though, and maybe the winner is a decent type as he went into that race on the back of a comfortable win himself.
It’s worth giving Ile Atlantique another chance to build on the promise he showed on his debut at Leopardstown, with Patrick Mullins preferring to ride him over stablemate Ballyburn.
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