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Fairyhouse hero Intense Raffles to be campaigned over hurdles - but Aintree still the target for Grand National second favourite
All roads still lead to Aintree for Grand National second favourite Intense Raffles but he will be kept over hurdles for now, starting at Navan on December 7, according to trainer Tom Gibney.
The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned Irish National winner has been a revelation since joining Gibney's yard from France in 2023, winning a novice chase at Fairyhouse on his stable debut before beating a four-runner field by 43 lengths in a rated event at the same venue.
Intense Raffles was a leading fancy for the Irish Grand National in April on his handicap chase debut and put in a resolute display to emerge victorious by a length and a half over Any Second Now, enhancing his flawless course form and giving Gibney his second win in the race after Lion Na Bearnai in 2012.
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