Fairyhouse — Monday 6 April 2026

Fairyhouse — Monday 6 April 2026

The Bank Holiday card at Fairyhouse is headlined by the BoyleSports Irish Grand National, and with yielding to soft ground across the track, stamina and jumping ability are going to sort the field out long before the last fence. Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott between them saddle the majority of the field across the three featured races, but the percentages alone won't find us value at 5/2. Let's dig into the angles.

3:50 — Rathbarry and Glenview Studs Hurdle (Grade 2, 2m4f)

The market makes Kawaboomga the 2/1 favourite, and there is a case for him, but the 3lb pull with Storm Heart is not enough of a swerve to make me side with a horse who finished behind him at Gowran. Storm Heart is the selection here at 11/4 (Bet365, William Hill).

Paul Townend takes the ride, and the fact Mullins' number-one jockey has deserted Blizzard Of Oz and Kawaboomga for this 6yo tells you everything. Storm Heart won twice on heavy ground this season, including a Grade 3, and then ran a thoroughly admirable race at Cheltenham in the 2m5f handicap, finishing third on good to soft ground having met two out wrong. He would have been closer on a clear round. Mullins' yard is ticking along nicely at 8 from 57 over the last fortnight, and this horse is very much on the upgrade. The top connections' Spotlight assessment says they haven't got to the bottom of him yet, and I believe it. Yielding to soft at Fairyhouse will suit him fine.

Glen Kiln at 9/1 (Bet365) is worth a small saver. He made all to win at Naas in Grade 3 company on heavy ground and stays this trip well. A sound jumper who gives his running every time, he is the most likely to make life awkward for Storm Heart if Townend tries to make this a war of attrition.

4:20 — Underwriting Exchange Fairyhouse Chase (Grade 2, 2m4f)

Six runners, small field, and one horse who has already won this race. Found A Fifty is the selection at 5/2 (Bet365, William Hill).

Jack Kennedy takes the ride, and Elliott's consistent operator beat Majborough and Energumene at Cork in December before pulling up in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham. That run at the Festival is best ignored entirely, that race was run at a fierce pace on better ground than he ideally wants. This is more his level, as the Spotlight bluntly states, and he comes back to a race he won last year at this trip on ground that will suit. Energumene at 11/4 is a false price for a 12yo who was tailed off at Leopardstown last time, and Saint Sam needs to rediscover form that has deserted him this season. Found A Fifty is the banker here.

5:00 — BoyleSports Irish Grand National (Grade 3 Handicap Chase, 3m5f)

Thirty runners, 3m5f, six places paid at 1/5 odds, yielding to soft. This is the race where each-way betting was invented.

The Jukebox Kid Each-Way is the standout each-way selection at 15/2 (Coral, Ladbrokes).

Ben Pauling's 7yo has been on an outstanding trajectory this season. He won on chase debut at Carlisle in November, had a minor blip at Cheltenham, then came back to land two 3m races at Ascot in succession, including the Grade 2 Reynoldstown. The Spotlight specifically calls him a good jumper with considerable potential for improvement. He is 7 years old, lightly raced, and unexposed at this extreme trip. The form of those Ascot wins is strong, and Ben Jones, a capable jockey in his own right, takes the ride. A field of 30 suits an each-way play at this price and he is no penalty to carry at 156lbs.

C'Est Ta Chance Each-Way at 14/1 (William Hill, Coral) is the second selection in this race. Danny Mullins rides for the Mullins stable, and this 7yo has gone from nowhere to landing a Grade 3 at Thurles after beating stablemates at Gowran. His RPR of 165 is the highest in the race, he was midfield on his chase debut here at Fairyhouse so the course holds no fears, and he is on a rapid upward curve. The stable has seven runners in this race and Mullins would not be throwing a wild 14/1 shot the reins of their most capable jockey if the horse was not fancied. He may not have the experience of some of the others, but his recent form is compelling.

Search For Glory Each-Way at 22/1 (William Hill, Coral) is worth a small each-way interest. He was disputing the lead when unseating at the last in the Ultima, which means we never got to see if he would have placed or even won. His second at Leopardstown in the Paddy Power Chase over 3m on yielding is the most relevant piece of form in this race for the trip and going, and 22/1 with six places paid looks generous for a horse of his ability if he arrives in good order after his Cheltenham exit.

Today's NAP