My Irish Grand National pick....

Sunday, 5th April 2026

My Irish Grand National pick….

In ATC today….

…. I bring you my pick in Easter Monday’s Irish Grand National….

I’m on ONE BIG BANG in the 5.00 at Fairyhouse – up at 12s….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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…. the Irish Grand National - Fairyhouse – 5.00....

I don’t know for sure if British chasers are rated just that bit more handily than their Irish counterparts….

…. but the British chasers are getting the best of it in the top handicaps….

…. and it’s good to see three horses trained in this country heading over to Fairyhouse for tomorrow’s big race….

…. and looking to emulate what Haiti Couleurs achieved last year….

Ben Pauling’s The Jukebox Kid is the big noise from the side of the Irish Sea – vying for favouritism this morning with Kiss Will – the number one contender for Willie Mullins….

…. but my preference – at the prices – is for the James Owen trained ONE BIG BANG at the general 12s….

He proved himself suited to the knockabout environment of big-field handicap hurdles last term….

…. finishing fifth in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham….

…. before heading to Punchestown – where he was ridden by Sean Bowen – and finishing third in another decent contest….

Switched to fences this term he’s had just the four goes….

…. but proved last time in the National Hunt Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival that he can handle the hustle and bustle of a big field handicap over fences too – finishing third to Holloway Queen….

For sure he was beaten far enough on the day – but it was a funny race in that Pic Roc really went at it from the front for a long way….

…. and the winner – once she’d picked him off – took off like a missile and never looked like stopping….

It has to be said that King Of Answers finished off better than One Big Bang on the day

…. but he came from the rear of the field whilst James Owen’s horse probably paid a price for travelling that bit closer to the front-end pace….

Whatever, it was only One Big Bang’s fourth run over the bigger obstacle….

…. he’s entitled to both learn and improve from it….

…. and there’s every chance he’s still very nicely weighted on a mark of 138….

I like the booking of Sean Bowen – made earlier in the week….

…. the pair combined well in a big handicap in Ireland last spring….

…. and if he can get a bit of a better tune out of the 8yo tomorrow….

…. perhaps with a slightly more even distribution of the horse’s in-race resources….

…. the pair can be in the mix….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back with on Wednesday with my picks for Day 1 at Aintree….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd