Former Grand National champion Paul Carberry claims one horse is a “certainty” to win this year at Aintree. The legendary jockey retired back in 2016, with his victory at Aintree in 1999 being arguably the biggest win of his career.
He rode 10-1 Bobbyjo to glory, becoming the first person from Ireland to win at the National in 24 years. Remarkably, it was his father, Tommy, who won at Aintree on L’Escargot back in 1975.
Now, with Inothewayurthinkin out of the running for the upcoming Aintree race on April 5, all eyes have turned to Intense Raffles as the new favourite. And Carberry is throwing his support behind the seven-year-old, trained by Thomas Gibney.
He tipped him to become the next Irish-trained winner of the National this year, telling Grand National odds: “Intense Raffles is very good. He is a worthy favourite.
“I was speaking to a lad that works with Thomas Gibney and said he is a certainty for it. He is a very nice horse, he’s been targeted for the race.
“Everything has to go right on the day. I think the plan was always to go for the English National after winning the Irish one. They have done that now, they want the double.”
Adding credibility to Intense Raffles’ prospects is his victory in last season’s Irish Grand National. He had stuck to hurdles this season before making a belated chasing bow in the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last month, where he finished second to Nick Rockett over three miles and two furlongs.
The pair will meet again at Aintree, though there will be a major change in the weight carried by each runner. Intense Raffles had to give 3lb to the eventual winner that day, but he will be carrying 12lb less in Liverpool if both runners are confirmed as expected.
Carberry went on to add: “I think that Intense Raffles will be very hard to beat, I know Keith Donoghue is sweet on Stumptown too.
“It would be nice to see him run well but I think those two will be the main two I’ll be following. I’d give Vanillier a squeak too.”
Carberry, often hailed as one of the finest horsemen of his era, ended Ireland’s struggles by winning Aintree in style 26 years ago.
Since his heroics, Irish trainers have claimed five wins in the past six editions of the £1million race, with only Lucinda Russell’s Corach Rambler in 2023 managing to halt their dominance.
Meanwhile, renowned owner JP McManus is positioned strongly for the Aintree event after a stellar Cheltenham Festival performance.
Last year’s champion I Am Maximus, is currently pegged at odds of around 7-1 for a repeat success, while Iroko, set to be ridden by the capable hands of Jonjo O’Neill Jr, is fetching slightly tighter odds at 6-1.
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