FAIRYHOUSE EASTER MEETINGTHERE COULD hardly be a more appropriately named winner in Co Meath than Royal County Star and while it will probably mean having to cope with at least one moment of severe stress during the course of today's Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National those backing the favourite still look set to collect in the €250,000 Easter highlight at Fairyhouse.
The normal stress of negotiating three miles and five furlongs among a big field in what remains Ireland's most coveted steeplechase prize will put off many from backing a horse who has been trading at general 4 to 1 odds in ante-post betting.
But Royal County Star fans also have to cope with the likelihood that the nine-year-old will at some stage make a bad jumping error. More than once during his chasing career, the horse has thrown in a bad blunder at a crucial stage, no more so than in last November's Troytown Chase at Navan.
A major gamble on Royal County Star looked sure to be landed for much of the race only for him to make a bad mistake at the second last. The depth of his talent, and the potential for landing the greatest prize of his career this afternoon, is reflected in the memory of how that mistake only threatened to deny that gamble for only a matter of strides. Just a length separated him from Gazza's Girl at the line but Royal County Star's authority was absolute.
Ever since then, the Irish National has been the plan meticulously carried out by Tony Martin, who also runs Newbay Prop, and it is no surprise that the ante-post layers have been taking no chances. David's Lad's Irish National win of 2001 is only one of a long series of handicap "touches" carried out by the shrewd trainer whose ability to get it right when it counts most is legendary. Sure enough Royal County Star has materialised on Easter Monday on the back of a warm-up run over hurdles and a rating 12lb higher than what he carried in the Troytown.
Timmy Murphy, who rode David's Lad seven years ago, substitutes for the suspended Robbie Colgan and 10st 4lb looks a perfect racing weight for an Irish National contender.
Even the fear of a bad jumping error is diluted somewhat by the fact that Royal County Star has never actually hit the deck. He unseated Colgan at the second last in the Kerry National last September but in the most important National of all in Ireland, Royal County Star's chance shines out.
Nevertheless the size of the field, and the fact that no clear favourite has won since the days of Omerta (1991) and Desert Orchid (1990), will have many looking for better prices and some each way value.
The more sentimental will examine the 10-time Grade One winner Beef Or Salmon who may be having his 50th and final start off topweight, and with a new jockey in Tom Doyle. Michael Hourigan's Leopardstown specialist has been dropped in the ratings to encourage him to run here but still faces a massive task of carrying 12st. With Pomme Tiepy out, Ruby Walsh fans will be relying on Alexander Taipan to provide the champion jockey with a third Irish National victory while his championship rival Davy Russell is on the former dual-Grade One winning mare Cailin Alainn.
Venetia Williams's pair, The Outlier and Flintoff, represent the British challenge while Ballycullen Boy is another to consider.
However the main challenge to Royal County Star could come from another pair of Meath runners.
Noel Meade runs both Mattock Ranger and Well Run and the former should relish this stamina test after a good run behind Well Tutored over two miles and five at Leopardstown.
However, despite being 9lb out of the handicap proper, Well Run is still Paul Carberry's pick and a stamina test will also be ideal for this horse who won his last start at Downpatrick in very impressive fashion.
Carberry is likely to ride him prominently from the start but in what could turn into an all-local finish, it's still hard to escape the conclusion that Royal County Star and Murphy will stalk and then pounce when it counts most.
FORECAST
1 Royal County Star
2 Well Run
3 Mattock Ranger
4 Priests Leap
