2026 Irish 2000 Guineas Preview & Tips

We got back into the winner’s enclosure on Saturday with Song Of The Clyde. What a relief! This weekend, we have two cracking days of racing at the Curragh. On Saturday, the 3yo colts take centre stage for the Irish 2000 Guineas and then on Sunday, it’s all about the girls in the 1000 Guineas.

We’ve had a bit of success in these races before, including when we backed Romanised to win at 40/1 (one of my favourite ever tips, hard to believe it was eight years ago) and last year, the 1000 Guineas was the race that convinced me to put Cercene up for Ascot at triple-figure odds. Hopefully this year’s renewals are equally as fruitful.

2026 Irish 2000 Guineas

Gstaad, a winner of three of his seven races, is a very short price to go one better than he did at Newmarket. He should come on for that run and he is miles clear on official ratings but 4/9? That looks a bit too short to me, especially when you consider his all-conquering yard’s recent record in this race isn’t exactly what you might expect (two wins in ten years).

O’Brien has three other runners and no doubt they’ll do their very best to ensure the race is run to suit Gstaad but, in saying that, his Coolmore owned sire Starspangledbanner has already sired multiple Group 1 winners and he’s 19 years old now so commercially, it would probably be better for their operation if Neolithic won.

He’s by Sioux Nation, another Coolmore sire, and he has yet to sire a Group 1 winner in Ireland, the UK or France. His fee has risen steadily since he was introduced at 12,500 in 2019 and after another 7.5k hike this year, his fee now stands at 37,500. Seen as a speed influence by most, if he were to sire a 1m G1 winner his fee would probably double next year. At 40s, he might be worth a little e/w dabble.

Star To Shine?

However, at even bigger odds I am going to go with another son of Starspangledbanner, the Johnny Murtagh trained Take Charge Star. According to my research, this will be Murtagh’s first runner in the Irish 2000 Guineas since his only previous runner in 2013, Fort Knox, who finished out the back.

Given the success he has had since joining the training ranks, I was hugely surprised by that fact. My thinking is that he’s been waiting until he had a proper horse to have another go and while on bare form with a rating of just 97 Take Charge Star has no apparent chance, if he had got a clearer run in the Listed Tetrarch Stakes over C&D (good) last time out I think he may have beaten Neolithic (40s here).

On his seasonal return at Naas, he ran in a three runner 1m conditions race on soft ground and finished 4l behind Hardy Warrior, who is 33s here. He also failed to reach the first four in the Goffs Million on soft ground last season. However, I’m not sure testing ground is his bag and while there was lots of rain around in Ireland early this week, the forecast is much better for the next few days so it should be beautiful ground for both the 2000 and 1000 Guineas this weekend.

Pedigree Pointers

Is Take Charge Star bred to be a Guineas horse? Well, he’s by the same sire as the 4/9 favourite, so that box is ticked. There’s encouragement to be taken from the dam side of his pedigree too. He’s out of a Group 2 winning Selkirk mare, and Selkirk is damsire to the likes of Daryz, Benbatl, Inspiral and Kinross, among others. His half-sister Albigna won the French 1000 Guineas and his granddam’s half-sister Domedriver won the Breeders’ Cup Mile. He certainly has the pedigree, anyway. 

It was Take Charge Star’s first run over 1m on good ground last time and given how he was ridden, buried on the inner, it was probably a fact-finding mission. Given that he has been left in the race, Ben Coen must have been pretty happy with the run and he did travel very strongly until he ran out of room 2f out, got checked and lost all momentum. I think there could be a bigger run than the odds suggest in this colt so at 66/1, a small e/w interest is advised. Hopefully he can sneak into the first three.

2026 Irish 2000 Guineas Tip: Take Charge Star e/w @ 66/1

-DaveStephens

2026 Naas Sunday Preview

After a confidence boosting winner with Song Of The Clyde on Saturday and a good run from our NAP Spyce (who just missed a place in fourth) I have decided to do another write up for tomorrow’s meeting at Naas. Find out who I am backing in my 2026 Naas Sunday preview below.

2.26 – ALTO Equine Handicap (100 = 10st)

Earlier this season I put the quirky Senna’s Girl up for the Irish Lincolnshire. It’s fair to say she ran a stinker but she clearly needed that run and it has been much more like it in two runs since then.

On her next start after the Lincoln she ran a cracker at Leopardstown in a first time tongue tie over 7f (yld-sft). Running off 78 and drawn in the car park, she stayed on really nicely in the closing stages to grab fourth, finishing 3.75l behind the winner.

Diego Dias decided to return to maiden company at Limerick on her next start (1m, yielding) and she again ran a really nice race. Wearing cheekpieces and a tongue tie this time, she ran on strongly after a slightly slow start for a 2.75l third.

The handicapper generously dropped her another 1lb for that run and with Rory Mulligan’s claim, she is effectively 7lb lower than when running so well at Leopardstown. The way she finishes off her races, the stiff finish at Naas could suit her and she has run well on good ground before, though there was a fair bit of rain on Saturday so it shouldn’t be too quick tomorrow.

The headgear she wore last time is retained and while she’s drawn wide, she’ll be dropped out early anyway so that isn’t really a negative. At odds of 12/1, Senna’s Girl is the each way NAP of the day.

2026 Naas Sunday Tip: Senna’s Girl e/w @ 12/1 NAP (4 places)

3.56 – Owenstown Stud Stakes (Listed)

I am going to take a punt on one at huge odds here. On the figures, Carolina Jetstream has no apparent chance here. She is rated 95 so she has over a stone to find with some of her higher rated rivals but she does get a few pounds of an allowance from the boys and she is unexposed on good ground.

This daughter of Pinatubo has shown all her best form on the AW. All four of her career wins have come at Dundalk, the latest a handicap off 92 in February. She has also dipped her toe in Listed company at that venue and she was a whisker away from nicking some black type in fourth, finishing 1.25l behind the winner Aviatrice and a neck behind the runner up Jancis, who won the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on her next outing.

Carolina Jetstream is 0-4 on turf and three of her four runs on grass have been piss poor. However, for those three runs she was running on soft and heavy ground. The only time in her career she ran on good ground was in a Curragh maiden as a 2yo back in October 2024 and she ran an excellent race to finish a 2.25l third behind Giselle, a subsequent Listed winner who finished fifth in the 2025 Oaks.

It is crazy to think this will be her first run on good ground since then and I am hoping she might improve plenty for it. At odds of 50/1, it is worth chancing that she does.

2026 Naas Sunday Tip: Carolina Jetstream e/w @ 50/1

-DaveStevos

2026 Chester Cup Preview & Tip

Our poor run continued last weekend, though I must admit I was rather pleased with Spicy Marg's run in the 1000 Guineas. She was only around 1.5l off a place and it’ll be interesting to see where she pitches up next. The 2026 Chester Cup is next on the agenda, get my preview and tip below.

2026 Chester Cup

If the ground is good, I think A Piece Of Heaven could be hard to beat here. He was a horse I flagged up as one to follow for Barry Fitzgerald two seasons ago but he has yet to get his head in front since joining Joseph O’Brien. However, he has run some cracking races in defeat when he’s had quick ground, including a narrow defeat in the Irish Cesarewitch, he’s got a great draw and there’s a good chance this track will suit.

However, he’s much too short for this blog at odds of 7/1 and instead, I’ll take a chance on another Irish raider, Zanndabad. Trained by Tony Martin, this dual-purpose sort has been racing over hurdles most recently. After a few months off he returned with a modest run in a Grade 1 at Aintree, but that was probably a run designed to blow away the cobwebs ahead of another tilt at this race.

In 2024 Zanndabad ran a huge race in this off a mark of 92, denied a clear run and beaten just 1l behind Zoffee. His patient run style means he is often a hostage to fortune and he’s met trouble a couple of times when shaping well in these big field staying handicaps.

For example, last August he was beaten just 1.75l when fourth in a valuable 1m4f handicap at York after encountering traffic problems. It was a similar story when he was a never nearer sixth in the 2024 Irish Cesarewitch. Given his run style, he’s going to need luck to win this so he isn’t one to be having a wedge on but if the gaps come at the right time, Zanndabad is more than capable of running a big race at 16/1 and he is the e/w selection.

2024 Chester Cup Tip: Zanndabad e/w @ 16/1 (4 places 1/4 odds)

-DaveStevos

2026 Punchestown Festival Wednesday Tips

We had a poor weekend. Our NAP Talakan got outpaced and probably needs further. Korker fell out of the stalls and Dark Cloud Rising ran okay but missed out on a place. This week we have the final major Irish jumps meeting of the season, check out Dave Stevos’ 2026 Punchestown Festival Wednesday tips below.

3.05 – Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Final (4yo+)

The one that looks a shade overpriced here at odds of 16/1 is Dunleer Crystal. Rated 114 after four runs over hurdles, his best effort came at Down Royal in December when he came home 2.25l behind Los Blanco, his first run on half-decent ground.

On his next start he failed to fire in a novice hurdle at Navan when 9l behind Raise You Up and Grey Jude but the ground was soft to heavy. Last time out at Wexford a lot went wrong. His saddle slipped and Jack Kennedy somehow stayed aboard and he came home in third, 3.75l behind the winner Ifallgoeswell and De Jour En Jour.

Jack Kennedy keeps the faith and he is weighted to get closer to Los Blanco and he surely would have gone close to beating both De Jour en Jour and Ifallgoeswell if he had a smoother trip at Wexford last time. It looks to me like decent ground may be key for him and at odds of 16/1, an each way interest is advised.

2026 Punchestown Festival Wednesday Tip: Dunleer Crystal e/w @ 16/1 (4 places)

4.15 – Channor Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Last time out at Aintree Frankie John ran a big career best to finish fourth in the Grade 1 novice won by Zeus Power. His first run at 3 miles, he was beaten just over 4l for the win and he seemed to relish the decent ground.

On his previous two starts he ran stinkers in Grade 1s at Naas and at Leopardstown, both on soft ground. Previous to those efforts he won a Leopardstown maiden hurdle (20.5f, gd-yld) and prior to that run, he ran second in a Galway maiden hurdle (21.5f, gd-yld) when he chased home Doctor Steinberg. Just over 5l separated the pair at the finish and over this longer trip, Frankie John might be able to get a bit closer.

Overall, this son of Walk In The Park has form figures of 312214 on yielding or quicker, compared to 4355 on soft and heavy. Once this run doesn’t come too soon after Aintree, Frankie John can outrun his generous looking odds of 33/1.

2026 Punchestown Festival Wednesday Tip: Frankie John e/w @ 28/1 (4 places)

Thursday

4.15 – Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (listed)

With early prices already on offer for Thursday’s action, I have to stick up Ballykinlar again. Yes, he came up short for us at Aintree and at Cheltenham but he didn’t run badly at all and with Shane Fenelon taking off 5lb, he’s effectively 13lb lower than when beaten 12l in the Martin Pipe and 8lb lower than when beaten 7.25l into seventh at Aintree.

When I put this horse up as one of my four to follow in an article for TXODDS earlier this season, I suggested that he could be one to watch out for at Fairyhouse and Punchestown in the spring. He was trained by Donnacha Duggan then so I presumed he’d focus on domestic targets but after he moved to Mickey Bowen, I simply had to keep faith in him for Cheltenham and Aintree.

In hindsight, I wouldn’t have tipped him for either of those races if I knew the Bowens were planning to come here. Why? Because this son of Irish Wells seems to be best going right-handed. His three wins have come at Sligo (x2) and Kilbeggan, both right-handed tracks, and his excellent Listed second came at Limerick, also a right-handed track.

In my defence, he did run well in a Listowel novice going left-handed which convinced me to tip him at Cheltenham and Aintree, but his form figures going RH over hurdles since he qualified for a mark read 2611142, compared to 307 going the other way.

Another cause for optimism is the step up to 3 miles. Okay, he hasn’t finished overly strongly the last twice but if you look back at his Limerick listed second over 2m5f and his third at Listowel behind Kainsbourg over 2m4f, he shaped in both those races as though this sort of trip will suit and his pedigree suggests it will suit too. At odds of 33/1, Ballykinlar is my e/w NAP of the week.

2026 Punchestown Festival Thursday Tip: Ballykinlar e/w @ 33/1 (6 places) NAP

-DaveStevos

2026 Newmarket Craven Meeting Thursday Preview

We didn’t manage to land a winner at Aintree but we landed place money with Jordans, and Take No Chances on Saturday and with Ike Sport (NB), Solness, and Mahons Glory (NAP) on Friday so overall, it wasn’t a complete disaster. We are back on the Flat tomorrow, my 2026 Newmarket Craven meeting Thursday tips are below.

1.50 – Betway Handicap (Class 2)

As is always the case in this early part of the season, many of these sprinters are lacking a recent run so fitness and well-being has to be taken on trust. Richard Hughes has started the season well and the booking of Ryan Moore for Sayidah Hard Spun catches the eye but I am going to take a chance on one at a far bigger price.

Sir Alfie has been installed as the rank outsider of the field at 40/1 but based on his win at the Curragh over this trip on good ground for Ger Lyons last August, he might be a touch overpriced here for Charlie Pike and Tom Greatrex.

After a moderate debut in the Navan maiden won by Charles Darwin, Sir Alfie was pretty consistent on good ground for Lyons. He got off the mark second time out at Down Royal  (5f, good) when seemingly the stable’s second string, giving 7lbs and a 1l beating to his now 92 rated stable companion.

On his next start at Cork, again over 5f, he finished a respectable third in a rated race, finishing 2.25l behind the runner up Kansas, who is now rated 101. Six lengths behind him in fifth was Oh Cecilia, already a two-time winner this season in Ireland who is now rated 89.

On his last start at 6f on good ground, Sir Alfie scored on his handicap debut at the Curragh off a mark of 85. He left Ger Lyons shortly after that win and his next two starts for Charles Byrnes came in listed races over 6f on yielding ground at Fairyhouse and on the AW over 5f at Dundalk.

He has been gelded in the off-season and he will have his optimum conditions of 6f on good ground for his first UK run for Charlie Pike. The market will probably indicate how he is expected to run but if he’s fit and ready I think he’s more than capable of being competitive off a mark of 90 so at 40/1, I’ll have a small each way bet.

2026 Newmarket Craven meeting Thursday Tip: Sir Alfie e/w @ 40/1 (5 places)

2.25 – Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes (Class 2)

One of the most prestigious British 3yo maidens which is often won by a useful animal. You’d think the market would be informative for a race like this but only two favourites have obliged since 2016 and there’s been three double figure priced winners in that period so we might as well have a go at finding one at rewarding odds.

The one I’ll take a swing at is Bemersyde for Jane Chapple-Hyam and Rossa Ryan. By Ghaiyyath, this colt is a half-brother to the very useful Warnie, a Group 2 winner in Australia. His dam won over an extended mile so this looks the right trip for him on debut and the booking of Ryan for the ride is a plus too (2/15 with three top 4s for this owner).

Chapple-Hyam ran two in this last season in these silks and they finished third and fourth at 11/4 and 33/1. The yard can ready one and hopefully, Bemersyde shows up well. Given the circumstances he isn’t one to be lumping on but at 16/1, a small e/w interest is advised.

2026 Newmarket Craven meeting Thursday Tip: Bemersyde e/w @ 16/1

3.00 – Abernant Stakes (Group 3)

A quality race with some top sprinters making their seasonal reappearances. Last year’s Commonwealth Cup winner Time For Sandals is surprisingly big at 4/1, especially with Ryan Moore booked for the ride.

Both Aramram and Jasour (who we have backed plenty of times before) have had the benefit of a recent run, finishing 1-2 in that order in the Cammidge at Doncaster. However, I can’t let Run To Freedom go unbacked, even at the ripe old age of eight.

He’s never won when we’ve backed him but he’s placed at monstrous odds on multiple occasions and overall, he owes us nothing. To be honest, I thought he would have been retired at the end of last season but the fact Henry Candy is bringing him back for another season suggests he still thinks he has a big one in him.  

It is encouraging that one of his best runs last year came on his seasonal reappearance in this very race when he was beaten just 1.5l into fourth behind the subsequent G1 winner Sajir. He pulled hard that day so it was a fine effort in the circumstances and hopefully he will settle better this time in this much bigger field.

He still hasn’t been gelded so a career at stud is clearly still on the cards for the son of Muhaarar and if he were to repeat the form he showed when a fine third in the July Cup here last year, he won’t be far away. At odds of 33/1, back Run To Freedom e/w.

2026 Newmarket Craven meeting Thursday Tip: Run To Freedom e/w @ 33/1 (4 places)

3.35 – Craven Stakes (Group 3)

The main event on Thursday at HQ is the Craven Stakes. Some very classy horses have won this in recent years, including the likes of Field Of Gold, Haatem (who we backed at 16s), Native Trail, Masar and Eminent.

This year, Coolmore are represented by the Futurity Stakes winner Hawk Mountain, but the fact that Aidan O’Brien has never won this race has to rate as a worry for his backers. Godolphin have a fine record in this race and they are double handed. Both their runners are 2/2, with Buick on the Frankel colt Hidden Force for Charlie Appleby and Ray Dawson on Avicenna for Roger Varian.

All three of those aforementioned horses are single figure prices, which is no use to us, but a few firms are paying three places e/w so at 25/1, I’ll take a chance on the George Scott trained Victor Ludorum colt, Commander’s Intent.

This horse had a fine 2yo campaign after a moderate run on debut at Newbury. He subsequently won a York maiden and a Doncaster handicap off 87 and his last three starts of 2025 came in stakes races.

At Baden Baden in September he was beaten just 2l into second in a Group 3 by Gostam (who won his next start in a G3 by 5l). He then finished second again in the G3 Sommerville Stakes over this C&D (good), beaten 4l by the subsequent Dewhurst third Distant Storm, currently an 8/1 poke for the 2000 Guineas.  

On his final start of last season he ran second in a 7f (soft) listed contest at Chantilly. I believe this horse will eventually prove most effective over 1m but given his record over 7f, it makes sense to keep him at the distance for now and depending on how Thursday goes, maybe step him up in trip next time.

With an official rating of 100 he hasn’t got a lot to find with the two Godolphin runners on paper and with odds of 25/1 on offer, a small each way interest on Commander’s Intent is advised.

2026 Newmarket Craven meeting Thursday Tip: Commander’s Intent e/w @ 25/1 (3 places)

-DaveStevos

Fairyhouse Sunday Tip

We landed a superb 28/1 winner with The Glen Rovers on Good Friday. It was an outstanding ride by Sean D Bowen and a top-class display of target training by Lucy Wadham. I am backing one horse at Fairyhouse on Sunday, hopefully she fares better at the start than she did at Cheltenham and also better than Soldierstown fared at the start at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

We backed Amen Kate at Cheltenham in the Grade 2 mares’ novice and she lost all chance at the start. It was a bit of a joke really but even though she was over 20l behind the leaders at one stage, she travelled into the race smoothly and two out, it looked like she might play a part in the finish.

However, the energy she expended getting into contention eventually took its toll on the Cheltenham hill and she faded out of it in the home straight.

Already a winner at Listed level, on the right handed track at Thurles, this daughter of Flemensfirth is bred to be a smart horse. Her dam, Augusta Kate, won this Grade 1 at this meeting in 2017 and her grand-dam, Feathard Lady, won the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Sandown in 2005.

Jack Kennedy, who was on board at Cheltenham, maintains the partnership and that has to be viewed as a plus. Yielding to soft ground should be absolutely fine for her and I’m convinced that if Amen Kate was given a fair shake at the start at Cheltenham, she’d have been in the frame and she wouldn’t be a 28/1 shot today. At those odds, she has to be worth backing each way.

I’ll be back with a preview for Monday’s card on the TXMarkets blog tomorrow.

Fairyhouse Saturday Tip: Amen Kate e/w @ 28/1 NAP

-DaveStevos

2026 Newcastle A/W Championships Preview & Tip

Last weekend we landed just one place with the very well backed Far From Dandy. Apart from his fine run, it was a bit of a disaster so hopefully we can bounce back on a busy Easter weekend. I’m not going to have a Saturday preview for TXMarkets but I will cover Fairyhouse’s Monday card for them and I may also have something for Sunday on my own blog. I have just two bets for Friday and they both run at Newcastle.

2.25 – Fillies’ And Mares’ Championship (Class 2)

A substantial purse of £150k for this contest with over 70 LARGE going to the winner. Plenty of horses will have been targeted at this race given the prize money and off a mark of 76, I am going to take a chance on the Richard Spencer trained Shallow.

She is by her owner’s sire Rajasinghe, a stallion who has a propensity for producing hardy handicappers. This filly was third in this race last year, beaten by just a length off a mark of 80. She had a very similar prep last season, running three races over 6f before running so well and Spencer has stuck to the same blueprint.

Shallow has admittedly yet to win over 6f but two of her best runs in the most valuable races she has contested have been over 7f, here last year and in a £100k handicap at York where she was a fine fourth off 82, beaten 3.5l for the win.

Her latest outing at Kempton over 6f had prep run written all over it and Saffie Osborne, who rode in that 7f York race, returns to the plate. The assessor dropped Shallow 1lb for that last effort and she returns to try and go two places better than last year off a 4lb lower mark. Her tendency to race keenly often costs her late in races but if Saffie can get her to settle better, she should be on the premises here at odds of 18/1.

2026 Newcastle A/W Championships Tip: Shallow e/w @ 18/1 (4 places)

4.10 – AW Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap (Class 2)

An even bigger purse of £175k here with a whopping £90k going to the victor. The one I am going to take a chance on at a big price is The Glen Rovers. Trained by Lucy Wadham, who is better known for producing winners over jumps, he’ll be ridden by Sean D Bowen (not the jumps jockey).

A son of Dark Angel, this 7yo has won five of his eleven starts. He only made his debut in an AW bumper as a 4yo but he has proven himself to be a useful performer on the Flat. He won on his handicap debut over this C&D off a lowly mark of 63 in July 2024 and he was kept on the go until last February, notching up four more wins, culminating in a neck win off 85 in the AW Champs trial at Lingfield.

Wadham gave him a well deserved break after that last gasp win and he returned to action in November off a mark of 92. A big unit, he probably needed that run, and the same sentiment applies to his next run at Kempton too as he was given an 86 day break after his comeback.

Last time at Chelmsford was also most likely a prep run as he was ridden close to the pace. He is a hold up sort who is best coming off a strong gallop and he is more than likely going to get that here. He stays further than 1m2f, which is an asset given the stiff nature of the Newcastle track and he is now just 3lb above his last win. Hopefully they go hard and fast from the start here and if they do, The Glen Rovers can stay on late to hit the frame at odds of 28/1.

2026 Newcastle A/W Championships Tip: The Glen Rovers e/w @ 28/1 (4 places) NAP

-DaveStevos

2026 Spring E/W Double

It’s that time of year again, although you wouldn’t know it from the weather. The Lincoln Handicap and the Grand National are coming up soon and Dave Stevos has found two horses at big prices for a 2026 Spring E/W Double (plus two small e/w singles). He landed a 25/1 winner at Naas on Sunday, find out who he is backing below.

Saturday March 28 Doncaster – Lincoln Handicap

I must admit, this is a race I don’t have a brilliant record in. Things have to change at some point though surely! Hopefully it’s this year.

Long time followers might remember me tipping up a horse trained by Geoffrey Harker in this race (twice in fact), Scottish Summit. Unfortunately, he never landed a blow in either of those renewals but I think his 5yo son of Muhaarar, Dashing Darcey, may be able to produce a big run for the Yorkshire based trainer this year.

Formerly trained by Roger Varian, this horse has won three of his fourteen starts (two on the AW). His last win came for Varian off 86 in a Haydock handicap (1m, good) in June 2024 and on his last two starts for that stable he was placed in mile handicaps on soft ground at Haydock and Goodwood off 92, so we know he is ground versatile.

Harker shot for the stars straight away with Dashing Darcey after shelling out 110,000gns for him at the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn horses in training sales. His first start came in last year’s renewal of this race and he got absolutely zero luck in running.

Dropped Out

David Allan dropped him out, as he is always ridden, and as the pace lifted he was initially tapped for toe. However, it looked like he had come back onto the bridle at around the 2f pole but just as he was beginning to creep into the race, he was badly baulked, Allan had to snatch up and that was race over.

On his next start he was narrowly denied off 91 at Haydock and then after a modest 7f run at York in June, he was put away for the season and gelded.

He races off the same mark off which he went close at Haydock here, David Allan is back on board and I’m hoping Harker has him ready to rock for his seasonal reappearance. He needs two horses to come out to get a run (which should happen), and if he does sneak in and avoids traffic problems, Dashing Darcey is capable of running on late for place money at least at odds of 66/1.

2026 Spring E/W Double Tip: Dashing Darcey e/w @ 66/1 (4 places 1/4 odds)

Saturday April 11 Aintree – Grand National

I have already tipped up High Class Hero for this race at 50/1 (read why here). Since I put him up, he has been pulled up at Naas but just like at Gowran in the Thyestes that was on testing ground, so I’d be willing to forgive him that run. He’s out to as big as 80s in a place now but if the ground comes up good at Aintree, I can see him producing a much better effort.

However, for this double, I am going to go with another horse that has had excuses for poor runs on his last two starts. We have backed Jordans a number of times over the past two seasons and he has yet to let us down.

We were on e/w at massive odds when he chased home Impaire Et Passe in the Faugheen Chase at Limerick (19.5f, yld-sft) in December 2024 and again when he was runner up behind Caldwell Potter at Aintree in a Grade 1 novice chase (3m, gd-sft) at last year’s National meeting. This season, we backed him e/w for five places in the Pertemps Qualifier (3m, gd-yld) at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting and while Keith Donoghue got his calculations wrong and missed out on qualifying for the final, he did stay on late to land the place money for us in fifth.

Nice Ground

That was the last time Jordans got a bit of nice ground. He has run twice over fences since, pulling up on heavy at Gowran and outpaced over an inadequate 2m5f at Leopardstown on soft.

I think the fact that Joseph O’Brien swerved Cheltenham with this son of Coastal Path is notable, as is the fact that he ran so well behind Caldwell Potter at Aintree a year ago. That rival is rated 155 over fences and Jordans gets in here off 150 so theoretically, he could be on a competitive mark (even with the usual Irish tax). He’ll also have a lovely racing weight of 10st 8lbs, once the top weights declare.

If it comes up soft or heavy, Jordans is probably goosed but if it doesn’t and there’s good in the description, as I have said before, I think this is a horse with Grade 1 ability. He hasn’t been properly ‘off’ once yet this year, hopefully he gets his ground and shows what he is capable of at Aintree. At 40/1, Jordans is the each way selection.

2026 Spring E/W Double Tip: Jordans e/w @ 40/1 (4 places 1/4 odds)

-DaveStevos

2026 Grand National Ante-Post Tip

Our ante-post bet on Beauport for last year’s Grand National didn’t go very well but we did find I Am Maximus at 25/1 in 2025 so hopefully, we can repeat the trick with our 2026 Grand National ante-post tip.

Seven of the last nine Grand National winners have been Irish trained. Lucinda Russell is the only UK trainer that has managed to break the Irish spell of dominance, with One For Arthur in 2017 and Corach Rambler in 2023.

Willie Mullins had the 1-2-3-5 last year. He also won it in 2025 and this year, he is responsible for 14 of the 78 entries. The bookies reckon that the home team has a good chance of getting back in the winner’s enclosure in 2026, with Iroko the current 7/1 fav for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.

Yes, he ran well in it last year when he was also sent off the fav, but he’s 5lb higher now and there isn’t much value in his current odds.

The most hyped Mullins horse since the weights have been published is the Scottish National winner Captain Cody. He won that off 140 and he’s 12lb higher for Aintree and if he wins the Bobbyjo on Saturday, he will likely shorten further.

However, the Mullins’ horse that might represent a bit of each way value at 50/1 is last season’s Bet365 Gold Cup third, High Class Hero.

Sticky Jumps

Only for a couple of sticky jumps at the third and second last fences at Sandown, this son of Sulamani (who sired the 2016 National winner Ruler Of The World) would have finished a lot closer than the 4.5l he was beaten by Resplendent Grey, to whom he was conceding 6lb. That rival also holds an entry for the 2026 Grand National and off level weights this time, I would fancy High Class Hero to close that gap markedly, once he jumps better.

This season, High Class Hero made a pleasing return to action over an inadequate trip of 2m5f at Punchestown in November. He was then sent off at 10/1 for the Thyestes Chase at Gowran but I’m not sure the absolutely bottomless ground was to his liking and he was pulled up before the second last fence.

Yes, he has won on testing ground over shorter but his form figures on yielding to soft or quicker read 1211223 and on the balance of probabilities, it will more than likely be good to soft in April.

High Class Hero has yet to race left-handed over the bigger obstacles but he has won two of his three previous starts going that way round, a bumper and a novice hurdle at Listowel, so he should be fine at Aintree. He’s only 5lb higher than when running so well in the Bet365 Gold Cup last year and if he puts in a half-decent round of jumping, High Class Hero is capable of hitting the frame in the 2026 Grand National at odds of 50/1.

2026 Grand National Ante-Post Tip: High Class Hero e/w @ 50/1

-DaveStevos

2026 Thyestes Chase Ante-Post Tip

This used to be a race in which smaller yards had a fighting chance of landing a big pot but these days, bigger yards mostly dominate. Yes, Martin Brassil won it in in 2022 but that was with Longhouse Poet for the Mulryans so it wasn’t really a ‘fairytale’ win. The last properly small trainer to take this prize was Liam Burke with My Murphy in 2016 and those that have been following me from the very start might remember backing him.

As a tipster who somewhat specialises in spotting horses with winning potential from so called lesser yards, the way Irish racing has gone in the last ten years has not made my job easy. For example, in last year’s renewal 14 of the 18 runners were trained by Mullins, Elliott, Cromwell and De Bromhead.

Big Four

This year, the big four are responsible for 23 of the 32 remaining entries and the chances are, one of them will win it. Flying the flag for the smaller operations is Terence O’Brien with Answer To Kayf. He landed the Troytown Chase on heavy ground at Navan in fine style back in November off 141 and if it comes up testing at Gowran on Thursday, he should go well again.

However, he’s only 10/1 and there isn’t much juice in those odds. Jordans is another interesting runner for Joseph O’Brien. We backed him in the Pertemps Qualifier at Leopardstown where he landed the place money for us in fifth but missed qualifying for the final at Cheltenham. He now reverts to fences and I think he is better than a 150 chaser, but I’m not sure the son of Coastal Path wants really soft ground.

Relish Conditions

One horse that looks certain to relish the likely testing conditions is Tom Gibney’s 2024 Irish Grand National hero Intense Raffles. Less than a year ago, on his last start at 3m plus on properly soft ground, Intense Raffles got to within 0.75l of Nick Rockett at Fairyhouse when conceding 3lb. That rival is now rated 169 after his Aintree heroics.

Three of Intense Raffle’s four runs since that excellent effort have come on good to soft ground and unsurprisingly, he hasn’t fared well. He pulled up at Aintree, was beaten 19l in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury and then pulled up in the Welsh National at Chepstow in December.

After those efforts, it is no surprise he is chalked up at 33/1 here but with rain forecast and the ground currently described as soft at Gowran, he should have his optimum conditions for the first time in almost a year.

Right-Handed

Another cause for optimism is that Tom Gibney’s charge is returning to a right-handed track. His career form figures at 3m plus on left-handed tracks read P8P. Going right-handed, he has amassed form figures of 112.

He admittedly remains 11lb higher than when winning the Irish National but that run at Fairyhouse last February suggests that he should be well capable of being competitive off his current rating of 151. Intense Raffles also likes to race close to the early pace, which is often a plus in this race and if he gets away well at the start and gets into a prominent position early, he can outrun his generous looking odds of 33/1.

2026 Thyestes Chase Ante-Post Tip: Intense Raffles e/w @ 33/1

-DaveStevos