Keep The Faith With Killaro For Fairyhouse

I have to admit, I was gutted to see Killaro Boy declared for Leopardstown on Thursday morning. He was one of my biggest fancies for the week at Cheltenham, but after seeing how he ran at Leopardstown I am buzzing. He wasn’t given a hard time by Robbie Colgan and even after a mid race stumble he stayed on well to be 4th.

Killaro Boy is no 100/1 shot if getting a run in the Irish National.

Adrian Murray stated last week that there would be no point in heading across the pond unless the horse was 100%, so presumably he was not in peak condition at Leopardstown. However, if that was the case he still managed to run an absolute cracker to finish 4th, staying on strongly after the last and running right through the finishing line.

I outlined my reasons for strongly fancying him for the Kim Muir here, and one of my slight doubts was that he would be going left handed. He will have no such worries at Fairyhouse, and indeed he is 2/3 at the track. His most impressive performance came there last season when he won as he liked in what has turned out to be a decent Novice Chase.

The way that form has worked out I believe he is extremely well handicapped off 134. He won by 10L and the 2nd home is now rated 140 and Phil’s Magic ran a cracker off 129 behind Gold Cup bound Total Recall in the Paddy Power at Leopardstown. Okay, he didn’t win today but he likely badly needed the run and he should come on leaps and bounds for it.


For five of the last six years, a rating of 134 was easily high enough to get into the Irish National. Last year the combination of an increase in prize money and a 4 week gap to Cheltenham meant that he wouldn’t have made the cut.

However, with just a 2 week gap this time I am very optimistic that he will sneak in off a low weight. If he does, I can guarantee he won’t be priced up at 100/1 and if he gets decent ground he is capable of running a huge race. A small ante-post investment is advised.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: IRISH GRAND NATIONAL-KILLARO BOY E/W 100/1