I was updating some of the other pages on Grand National Guide earlier this week and I was shocked to see that there wasn’t an Irish horse in the first SEVEN horses home in the 2009 Grand National.

This seems completely at odds with the last three years:

2006 Irish horses placed First, Second and Fourth.

2007 Irish horses placed First and Third.

2008 Irish horses placed Second, Third and Fourth.

So, was 2009 just a blip or a collection of under performing horses? Or perhaps the British handicapper over compensated for such strong performances from our Irish counterparts in the three previous years and maybe the Irish were badly handicapped in 2009?

Of the horses to complete in 2009 Southern Vic probably didn’t have the ground to suit, Snowy Morning could possibly have had too much weight, Irish Invader may not have truly stayed, Preists Leap looked very badly handicapped and Offshore Account ran well till two out.

There were a number of incompletions and it’s very difficult to say what might have been for Hear The Echo and Black Apalachi but from a personal view a couple of the above at the very least look to have been harshly treated, although, of course, that is very easy to say in hindsight.

Other strong Irish fancies dropped out close to the race such as Garde Champetre, Notre Pere and War Of Attrition whose trainer Mouse Morris was very critical of the weight given to his ex-Gold Cup winner.

So, should we be careful when selecting possible long range fancies from over the Irish Sea? Is there a chance they will be harshly treated when they come to Aintree? If not are there any less obvious Irish horses that you will be looking out for this year?

Pablo mentioned a few interesting ones on his long list on the Early Fancies thread such as Ambobo, Casey Jones, Arbor Supreme, Emma Jane, Siegemaster etc etc. Do any of these appeal as horses who could work their way into the 2010 Aintree picture?

Let us know how you see the 2010 Irish challenge.