RETIRED JOCKEY ROBBIE POWER has said he would be surprised if it's not an Irish winner of the Grand National this year.
Ireland's stranglehold in the sport has grown over the years and Power at one time was one of jockeys leading the Irish charge at events like Cheltenham and the Aintree Grand National.
The 41-year-old famously rode the Gordon Elliott-trained Silver Birch to glory in the Randox Grand National at Aintree in 2007
The year the Grand Natioal runs from Thursday 13th April to Saturday 15th April (three days) and the Irish are expected to dominate again. The main event is on the Grand National day which is on Saturday 15th April
Power, who now works as a race planner for trainer Henry de Bromhead believes that Ireland's grip on the sport will continue on Saturday for the main event.
I’d be surprised if the winner of this year’s race doesn’t come from Ireland
"It's a unique challenge. For years and years, Irish horses didn’t win the Grand National, English horses always won it. That started to change when Bobbyjo won the race for Tommy and Paul Carberry in 1998, L’Escargot was the last Irish winner before that in the 70s," sai Power to Grand National betting
"But in recent years, it has become an Irish dominated affair and a bit like the Cheltenham Festival at the moment, the Irish have been dominant in the National Hunt scene. I would be surprised if it’s not an Irish winner this year, I am quietly confident all the steeplechases will come back to Ireland. "
"Gabby’s Cross was very very good at home schooling, he’s not the most natural jumper but he seems to be better over bigger fences.
"Ain’t That a Shame is just a very nice horse and, touch wood, a very good jumper. The more obvious one of Henry’s is Ain't That A Shame but Gabby’s Cross has been running well in handicaps, the trip will suit him and if he gets into a rhythm then he is probably overpriced."
The Grand National is the race every jockey, trainer and owner wants to win
"The Grand National is the most famous steeplechase in the world and is the one race that brings National Hunt racing to the front pages of the newspapers.
"It’s a fantastic spectacle and it was always great to be a part of it. It’ll be a bit different for me this year not being a part of it but I am looking forward to it all the same.
"The Grand National is the one race that jockeys, owners, trainers just want to be a part of."
So many superstars on display this week at Aintree.
Have some very fond memories on this course and can't wait to see how Constitution Hill fares today. https://t.co/WGXHMblVDV— Robbie "Puppy" Power (@Robbie_Power_) April 13, 2023
You need a lot of luck on your side to win the Grand National
"Luck, basically, that’s what you need. You also need to be on a brave horse as well, but there are so many things that can go for or against you in a Grand National, so you need a bit of luck on your side.
"Some horses you might think have exactly the right profile for a Grand National but they just don’t suit the big fences in the race. Other horses that you think might not fit the profile, see the fences and absolutely love it.
"You need a horse that really switches on and attacks the fences.
"My run on Silver Birch, I think it was at the Foinavon fence where a horse fell in front of me and I was like ‘Oh no, I’m going to get brought down here’ but that horse just fell out of my way and then I had a lovely path and found myself in a better position.
"Those are the little things that can go for you. With 40 runners, it is a great spectacle and you just need things to go your way."
