1pt win Now Is The Hour @8/1, 1pt each-way Search For Glory @33/1, 17:00 Monday, Fairyhouse

3m5f BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase (Extended Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) (5yo+)

Gavin Cromwell looks to have a very strong hand here and his challenge is spear-headed by NOW IS THE HOUR who might just be the type to put it altogether today over this trip and in awful ground conditions. The son of Westerner absolutely relishes soft to heavy ground and he was running a massive race when coming down at the second last at Cheltenham in the National Hunt Chase won by Haiti Couleurs. It’s hard to say whether Now Is The Hour would have won but considering the ground was probably too quick for him last month, he clearly showed that he was a force off this kind of mark.

His heavy ground win a Grade 2 Novice hurdle at Haydock last season was hugely impressive and he has run several solid races over fences during his novice chasing campaign without winning which could mean he has a fair bit still up his sleeve on the handicapper.

I give a fair chance to the likes of Bioluminescence, Jonnywho, and Quai De Bourbon who all possess some class but one that looks overpriced to me is SEARCH FOR GLORY. Gigginstown have had plenty of outside winners of this race in the past, but Search For Glory has plenty of high calibre form to his credit. He started life over fences by beating Sa Majeste by eight lengths before going down by a short head to Albert Bartlett winner and Brown Advisory second Stellar Story. He then followed that up with a good third behind Impaire Et Passe and Jordans over an inadequate trip in a Grade 1 Novice Chase.

Search For Glory has not performed well in his two starts in handicap chases but both of them have been on left-hand tracks whereas all his best form seems to be going the other direction. Whilst he would need to jump better than his 7/24 finish in the Ultima last time out, he wasn’t disgraced, and the return to a softer surface should suit. I fancy him to outrun his massive odds in an unpredictable race off a workable mark of 143.

1pt win Now Is The Hour @8/1, 17:00 Monday, Fairyhouse
1pt each-way Search For Glory @33/1, 17:00 Monday, Fairyhouse (1-7 places, 1/5 odds)

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