Ever since MONBEG GENIUS finished a close third in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival three years ago, it looked only a matter of time before he landed a big handicap.
The form of that race could hardly have worked out better. The winner Corach Rambler, running off a rating of just 146 that day, went on to land the Randox Grand National a month later and was eventually rated at 162. The second horse from the Ultima in March 2023, Fastorslow, then running off a rating of 150, won the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup a month later, beating none other than Galopin Des Champs off level weights. Fastorslow was eventually rated 171.
Yet Monbeg Genius, trained by Jonjo O’Neill and his son A.J., has been a disappointment since that big run at the Festival in a red-hot race, winning just one modest handicap at Uttoxeter from his next 13 races. However, his four runs this season have been increasingly promising, finishing third last time out in the Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival last month on ground much livelier than ideal for him.
The softer the better for this horse on Sunday
Now ten years old, the BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday (5 p.m.) could be his last chance of landing a big handicap chase. He is not one for the mortgage as he throws in plenty of poor runs, but he is well handicapped if performing to his best.
Back Monbeg Genius one point each way at 33-1 with Ladbrokes, paying four places. There will be more places available on the day but I doubt that the 33-1 will last.
I already have a non-runner in the race. Just a week after connections highlighted to the Racing Post how they thought they had found the right horse for the Irish Grand National in Stumptown, trainer Gavin Cromwell failed to declare him for the race earlier this week, perhaps after a setback.
A British trainer, Ben Pauling, has the forecast favourite for the race in The Jukebox Kid and this lightly-raced improving novice chaser will have a big chance of landing the spoils in Ireland.
However, at much bigger prices, I also want to back another British-trained novice chaser, especially as champion jockey Sean Bowen has been provisionally booked for the ride already. ONE BIG BANG, trained by James Owen, was third in the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month. This eight-year-old gelding seemed to enjoy racing in a big field that day so back him one point each way at 20-1 with Paddy Power, Betfair or Sky Bet, all paying five places.
The Grade 1 WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Sunday (5 p.m.) is an interesting contest but, at the time of writing, the final declarations for the race were not known.
If declared, Willie Mullins-trained Kappa Jy Pyke will be looking for a hat-trick of wins this season. This improving six-year-old gelding is the likely favourite, although there has been strong support for the British-trained runner Sixmilebridge too.
The Fergal O’Brien-trained Sixmilebridge swerved the Cheltenham Festival last month because of the quick ground, as did the Henry de Bromhead-trained seven-year-old mare, THE BIG WESTERNER.
The softer the better for this horse on Sunday and she might prefer a longer distance than the trip of two miles four furlongs. However, the 7 lbs mares’ allowance will come in handy. Back The Big Westerner 1 point each way at SP (Starting Price) in the hope that there are at least eight runners so that the bookmakers pay three places.
Next weekend the spotlight turns on Aintree with a splendid three-day card, including the Randox Grand National (Saturday, 11 April, 4 p.m.). As usual, I will be back with a blog on Friday morning that looks at the last two days of the big meeting.
Pending:
1 point each way The Big Westerner at SP for the WillowWarm Gold Cup.
1 point each way Monbeg Genius at 33-1 for the Irish Grand National, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way One Big Bang at 20-1 for the Irish Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Stumptown at 33-1 for the Irish Grand National, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. Non runner.
1 point each way Prairie Wolf at 33-1 for the Topham, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
2 points win Grangeclare West at 10-1 NRNB for the Aintree Grand National.
1 point each way Now Is The Hour at 33-1 NRNB for the Aintree Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
2025-26 jumps season: running total – 31.185 points
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for six full seasons of tipping: + 126 points
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