2012 Irish Grand National Picture Gets Clearer

Groody Hill, if all things remain as they are currently, will go off the betting choice in the 2012 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse next Monday. Unraced since late December when 3^rd from 26 at Leopardstown in the Paddy Power Chase, the JP McManus-owned six-year-old has been clipped down to 8/1 by several bookmakers from his previous quotation at 10/1.

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The Roche yard seemingly found a different bit of form with this one for much of 2011 after he strung together a sequence of three victories in a row. A four-month freshening will have done him plenty of good but this remains very much an open race.

Four Commanders hasn't won since last November at Down Royal but a credible series of place efforts makes him a contender for the breakthrough here. Mouse Morris knows his way around this race and he doesn't look to have peaked at this point despite three efforts so far this year. Likely pointed towards this one for some time, he will probably go off at single digits on the day as the situation begins to firm up.

Alfie Sherrin is experiencing some real variance here with a 10/1 and a 16/1 price currently out there at the moment. He gained plenty of credibility after scoring in the JLT Handicap Chase at Cheltenham with Richie McLernon up. He was held up for much of the race but quickened when needed and showing lots of fluency over the fences.

He delivered at 14/1 on the day and looks to be in very good nick.

Allee Garde is a French-bred who last scored when bet down to even money at Clonmel in early December. A falling effort in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham is the only real blemish on there since last year's festival and it remains quite possible that he just doesn't like Cheltenham. He's decent value to hit the board here and will likely emerge as a stronger each-way selection if his price begins to drift over the week. He is 10/1 in places but 14/1 is more likely.

An interesting outside bet might be Gold Cup contender The Midnight Club who will line up for Willy Mullins yard. Clearly outmatched that day and sent off at nearly 100/1, they were able to put together a win at Fairyhouse in February of last year so you might just expect him to enjoy his day out as it will be his first day on track since then.

The Midnight Club can be had anywhere from 12/1 to 18/1.