Another Sunday, another valuable Irish-based National, another strong brigade of Gigginstown-owned chasers in the line-up. Despite being run over four furlongs further, Sunday's Cork Grand National has a similar feel to last month's Munster National at Limerick, which of course was won by Gordon Elliott's Tiger Roll, one of five Gigginstown horses that contested the race. Tiger Roll is absent here, but Elliott is still triple-handed with Wrath of Titans (who along with the Mouse Morris-trained Rogue Angel also contested the Munster National), Akorakor, and Captain Von Trappe.
Though on the face of it this National has a very similar feel to last month's at Limerick, Cork's prize on Sunday has plenty of added intrigue given the presence of Willie Mullins' New Kid In Town. At this early stage in the season Elliott leads Mullins in the Irish trainer standings in both winners and total prize money (by around €250,000) and the ongoing battle between them will certainly add extra spice to the Irish jumps scene over the winter. The €29,500 on offer to the winner of Sunday's race could prove important in that regard (at this early stage in the campaign, at least).
New Kid In Town failed to make much of an impact over hurdles last season (well beaten in all four of his starts in handicaps), but has shown much improved form since being switched to fences, and improved again to defy a penalty in a novice here last month. He has been able to dominate from the front on his last four starts, however, and with Rogue Angel being another habitual front runner who will presumably press him for the lead, New Kid In Town is not certain to get things his own way here, for all that his mark of 123 looks workable on what he achieved last time. As favourite, he is worth taking on.
Unsurprisingly, the most attractive prospects to take on the favourite with are trained by Gordon Elliott. Akorakor has not seen seen since putting in a below-par effort at Killarney in August last year, but he is lightly raced over fences and had been shaping up quite well prior to that, winning twice at Kilbeggan before unseating (when rallying) in the Midlands National at the same track on his penultimate start. If he is ready to go following his absence, he is an interesting runner.
Wrath of Titans arrived at the Munster National on an upward curve (sent off at 13/2), but was put on the back foot on the final circuit by a less-than-fluent round of jumping. He had looked good prior to that when winning a strongly run, heavy ground Kerry National by five lengths, however, and is worth another chance now back over a marathon trip given that he is still lightly raced.
Other interesting challengers - this time not trained by either Mullins or Elliott - include Forever Gold, who was second to Fletchers Flyer over three and three-quarter miles at Punchestown last season and warmed up for this assignment with a spin over hurdles at Gowran Park last month. Though he has just one win to his name over fences, he is sure to stay (something that isn't a guarantee for all of this field) and looks a place contender. Bearly Legal was below his best in that Punchestown race, but the race came fairly soon after his good fifth in the Irish Grand National and his effort is easily forgiven. His pipe-opener in a veterans chase at Aintree last month will have sharpened him up and, unexposed over these sorts of trips, is another likely player.
Overall, however, the one to take New Kid In Town on with is probably Wrath of Titans, who had been progressing well prior to his blip in the Munster National last time and definitely looks worth another try at this sort of trip. He can give Gigginstown and Gordon Elliott another valuable staying chase.
Recommendation:
Back Wrath of Titans at 8/1 in the Cork Grand National