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Three Irish Horses Who Could Have A Big Chance In The 2019 Grand National

The Grand National is the one race in National Hunt racing that every jockey, trainer and owner dreams about winning. Run at Aintree in Merseyside, it is the most famous steeplechase anywhere in the world.
A maximum field of 40 horses will line up in April and, as ever, there will be a number of Irish runners who will be taking on their counterparts from the UK for the first prize. Here is a look at three Irish horses who look to have a great chance of winning the race this year.
Tiger Roll
Tiger Roll has the opportunity to add his name to the history books of the Grand National this year by becoming the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win the 4 miles 3 ½ furlongs contest in back-to-back-years. Gordon Elliott’s runner hit the front of the field after the third last fence in 2018.
He had a six length lead at one point in the run-in to the finish line and he just held on by a head to deny the strong-finishing Pleasant Company. The former Cheltenham Festival winner will be trained to peak once again at Aintree but he will have to carry much more weight on his back this time.
Elliott’s horse loves a strong stamina test though and given how well he jumps, he is sure to be in the mix once again where he is 20/1 with the bookmakers to retain his crown.
Bellshill
Irish Champion Trainer Mullins won the Grand National back in 2005 with Hedgehunter but despite dominating many of the big races either side of the Irish Sea since then, he has been unable to win the race at Aintree again.
This season may be the year that Mullins ends his wait for a second National success as Bellshill appears to have a fantastic chance. The nine-year-old proved his class last April when he won the Punchestown Gold Cup. The son of King’s Theatre had a lot of success over hurdles and now looks a real threat over fences in the leading staying races.
He is 25/1 in the betting for the Grand National and if you are looking to back the Irish horse, don’t miss out on a number of free bets on the race which Oddschecker have listed and highlighted the best of the bunch.
General Principle
General Principle won the biggest race of his career last season when he landed the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
In what was on heavy ground at the Irish track, the nine-year-old proved his stamina to get up in the final stride ahead of Isleofhopendreams. Connections of General Principle will be hoping for rain in the build-up to this year’s Grand National which will improve their horse’s chances.
If the ground does come up heavy on the day at Aintree, he is going to have a fantastic chance, therefore, the 33/1 available on Elliott’s runner could look a huge price.
Keep an eye on all the action over the next few months in the UK and Ireland as there are a number of Grand National trials set to take place which will affect the betting for the big race in April.
The Franco Hughes team will be represented at Farmaclaffley on
Saturday for the Tynan & Armagh Point-to-Point.
We catch up with some of the organisers from the three
point-to-point meetings that are on this weekend.
Tattersalls Cheltenham 2019 sales season opened with fabulous
results at the Cheltenham February Sale.
The Dawstown-placed Go Another One got the better of Notebook and
Denwork.
Wide Receiver became the second most expensive point-to-point
horse sold at auction on Thursday,
The leading Cheltenham hope won his four-year-old maiden for
Colin McKeever & Wilson Dennison at Tyrella.
There will be schooling available at Borris House on Monday 4th
March.
The Limerick Harriers will unveil their new point-to-point track
at Ballycahane, Crecora on Sunday 3rd March.
Up and coming handler Brian McMahon took the mares' maiden at
Nenagh last Sunday and talks about his career to date here.
Online Entries for the Tattersalls Ascot March Sale close on
Monday 25th March.
Kruzhlinin sets out to achieve a seventh consecutive
point-to-point success this season in the Open at Tinahely.
The much-loved member of the Healy Racing team was a very popular
figure on the point-to-point scene.
Hi Murphy bids to secure his third success of the season in the
winner of two race.
The Papal Bull mare Loughrask Breeze took the five-year-old and
upward mares maiden at Nenagh on Sunday.
ITM will continue to present the leading mares' point-to-point
handler with a voucher at the Irish Point-To-Point Awards.
British-trained horses will be able to run in next months
Lingstown Banks race which is worth over E3,000.
Liz Lalor who only gave birth a little over five and half weeks
ago made an immediate return to race-riding.
'Testing of riders for banned substances is being introduced at
point to points in the next few weeks'
Ucello Conti followed up on his recent Thurles
win with a fine victory in the Boardsmill Stud Hunters
Chase.
The Pat Doyle-trained Moig South winner is one of the leading
Albert Bartlett Hurdle contenders.
We catch up with the organisers of the three fixtures that take
place this weekend.
Change of venue for Premier (H) on Sun 10th March. Their fixture
which was originally to be held at Horse & Jockey will now
take place at Turtulla.
The IHRB have released a list of Frequently Asked Questions in
order to clarify some points in relation to Equine Influenza.
Eddie Power has enjoyed a dream start to his training career and
the former jockey explains how it all came about here.
The IHRB have clarified the eight-week rule pertaining to
vaccinations prior to a horse running in Ireland.
21-year-old Evan Dwan rode his second winner of the season at
Ballinaboola last Sunday and the Tipperary native talks us
through his career to date here.
A look ahead to the Gold Cup at next month's Cheltenham Festival.
Tattersalls Ascot are now taking entries for their March Sale, to
enter online click here...
Twelve months on from his Ballinaboola maiden success, Envoi
Allen picked-up his fourth success on the bounce.
The Moig South four-year-old winner picked up his first Grade 1
prize less than a year after his point success.
RACE are offering two Schooling courses this season, Schooling
Progression and Schooling Preparation.
The Killeady Harriers are moving to Dromahane for their April
fixture.
Michael Sweeney recorded his seventh success of the season in
ultra-dramatic fashion at Boulta on Sunday.
A total of 79 point-to-point fixtures will take place in the
spring campaign right through to the June Bank Holiday.
Ronan McNally enjoyed a day to remember at Hexham on Monday when
his stable veteran See Double You won his tenth races at the ripe
old age of 15.