Irish Grand National tip: find out who Ross Millar thinks will win the big one at Fairyhouse

The Easter holiday is, for me, all about the Monday, as it allows me to enjoy two of my favourite things at the same time, namely chocolate and a high-class handicap chase over a marathon trip.

The Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse is as competitive as ever this year, with virtually all of the field holding a legitimate chance. However, I’ve whittled it down to a shortlist of four.

Farclas would have held a realistic chance in last weekend's Aintree National, so the fact that connections swerved that assignment to target this instead needs to be taken very seriously. Triumph Hurdle winners often develop into stamina-laden performers later in their career, as demonstrated perfectly by Tiger Roll, and Farclas has looked to have found his calling as a staying chaser. His fine fifth in last year's Grand National came after finishing second to the well-handicapped The Shunter at Cheltenham in the Plate over an inadequate 2m4f. Connections have opted for a different strategy this season and he arrives at Fairyhouse fresh off a near five-month break. He is just 3lb lower than when chasing home Run Wild Fred in the Troytown Chase at Navan on his last start, while Shane Fitzgerald’s 5lb claim means he races off a nice weight of 11st. I expect him to be very competitive.

Plenty of contenders for the Irish Grand National

There would be no more deserving winner than Ronald Pump - he is one of the most adaptable horses in training and has been campaigned ambitiously and imaginatively by his trainer, Matthew Smith. After a promising seasonal debut where he chased home Honeysuckle in the Hatton’s Grace, he appeared to lose his way over hurdles, and I must admit when I saw him being awkward and surly at the start of the Leinster National I felt he might be a spent force, However, he finished a fine second on what was his first start over fences for two years and looked to have all his old enthusiasm re-instated. Liam McKenna, who rode him then, retains the ride and if he is able to see out the extra half-mile he is attractively handicapped off just a 5lb higher mark.

I had quietly fancied Streets Of Doyen for the Scottish National, where he was a non-runner, and he remains of interest. He has been set some arguably impossible tasks since heading over fences, and there can surely have been few, outside of his connections, who felt he had a realistic chance in last month's Brown Advisory at Cheltenham. He has now slipped to a mark of just 138, which should underestimate his ability given he was classy enough to finish third in last year's Albert Bartlett. His stamina is unproven over this far but he’s shaped like a thorough stayer and races off 10st 6lb with a tongue tie. I’ll have a few pounds invested, and he narrowly missed out on being the main selection.

Mount Ida is my first choice for this race. It’s become obvious over the last few runs that she has to go right-handed, given her tendency to jump severely to the right when racing left-handed. Indeed, her unseat at the first fence last week in the Grand National came as a direct consequence of that habit. A trip to England and back just a week ago isn’t a positive but she was caught in a holding pen very early on so will not have had a tiring experience running loose. Her win in the Kim Muir last year was remarkable and came despite doing plenty wrong. She has always looked tough and tenacious and I’m certain this trip is going to see her in better light again. There is no finer jockey than Davy Russell, especially in these big field handicap chases, and I’m confident he can deliver a huge performance from this talented but quirky mare.

Recommended bet

Mount Ida @ 19