Paul Townend, Rachael Blackmore and Davy Russell chasing first Irish National

Monday: 5.00 Fairyhouse
BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase | 3m5f50y | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTE1/RTV

Paul Townend, Davy Russell and Rachael Blackmore have achieved just about all there is to achieve in the sport between them, but there is one glaring omission from all three CVs – an Irish Grand National victory.

Indeed, only two of the 30 jockeys riding in Ireland's biggest jumps race this year have won it before – Robbie Power on Our Duke in 2017 and JJ Slevin on General Principle in the 2018 thriller.

This would certainly appear to be Townend's best chance yet. Gaillard Du Mesnil oozes class and a novice won the Grand National at Aintree last weekend, and Townend thinks one can at Fairyhouse too, despite recent trends suggesting otherwise.

Townend said: "Gaillard Du Mesnil is only a novice but he was a good hurdler and each run over fences has been that little bit better. The ground will be better than it was at Cheltenham.

"The trip is an unknown, but my worry is the weight. They are claiming off the three horses above him in the handicap so he's going to carry the most weight in the race, which isn’t ideal."

Speaking in his Ladbrokes blog, Ireland's champion jockey added: "We couldn’t be happier with him, we would just like to have 7 or 8lb less on his back. There are a lot of horses there at around 11st or less who are going to be competitive. He couldn’t be going there in better form but it is a big ask to carry that amount of weight."

Mount Ida: the mount of Davy RussellCredit: David Keane

Russell has switched from Run Wild Fred, who he rode in the Grand National, to Mount Ida, who was a first-fence casualty at Aintree.

She is back going in the right direction, given her tendency to lunge right, and perhaps the best piece of recent form in the race is her victory over subsequent Cheltenham Mares' Chase heroine Elimay in a Grade 3 chase at the track on New Year's Day.

Blackmore, who was third to Our Duke on Abolitionist in 2017, partners the fascinating Full Time Score. Two of his three wins have been at Fairyhouse, he is owned by a local in Chris Jones and, given this will be only the seventh start of his career, we surely haven't seen the best of him yet.

Blackmore will certainly be hoping so, as will her gigantic fan club.

Swan and Taaffe set for debut rides

There is often a family link that brings together Irish National winners past and present, and two amateur jockeys having their first rides in the historic contest hail from rich stock when it comes to landing the Fairyhouse prize.

Gordon Elliott has given debut rides in the great race to 19-year-old Harry Swan and 20-year-old Pat Taaffe, who are set to partner Fakir D'Alene and Battleoverdoyen respectively.

Swan's father Charlie, best known as a nine-time champion jockey, won the 1993 race on Ebony Jane, while Harry's great-grandfather Tim Hyde rode Clare County and Prince Regent to victory in the 1938 and 1942 runnings, as well as training Dominick's Bar to win in 1950.

It will be the second time Swan has ridden Fakir D'Alene after finishing fourth on the seven-year-old last month in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

"It's very exciting," said Swan, who studies at Trinity College Dublin.

Harry Swan (left) and Pat Taaffe: looking forward to their Irish Grand National debutsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"I'll probably speak to Dad about it on Sunday night but I'm just very thankful to Gordon and the Morans for giving me the ride."

Swan, who rode his first domestic winner at Fairyhouse in 2019, added: "It's a huge race. Hopefully he has a chance if the ground stays on the good side."

The Taaffe family is interwoven in the history of the Irish Grand National, given Pat's legendary grandfather of the same name holds the record for most wins in the race on six, including Arkle in 1964 and Flyingbolt two years later.

"It's fantastic to get the chance to ride in the race as I wasn't expecting it," said Taaffe, whose father Tom also steered Brittany Boy to victory in 1987.

"I was actually just waiting for the declarations for Sunday's bumper to come up when I looked at the Irish National field and saw I was down to ride him. I can't wait."

The University College Dublin student added: "I've had some good support so far, particularly from Gigginstown and Noel Meade, and that's important when you're getting going. Dad is coming back from America this weekend and we're hoping to walk the track together before racing on Monday.

"Battleoverdoyen is a classy horse on his day and is well able to jump – he has a lot of experience to call on. It's a short turnaround from last time but hopefully he can run well."

Read more Fairyhouse previews:

2.40 - Triumph Hurdle fourth Icare Allen puts Vauban form to the test in Grade 2

3.50 - Flame Bearer bids for Grade 2 hat-trick at beloved Fairyhouse

4.20 - 'He looks the pick of ours' - who does Willie Mullins fancy in classy Grade 2?

2022 Irish Grand National pinstickers' guide: quotes and ratings for every horse

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday