Irish Grand National News: Robbie Power says it's Time To Get Up

Jockey Robbie Power has won the Irish Grand National before, on Our Duke in 2017 so knows what sort of ride it will take to taste victory in 2022 on Time To Get Up.

Jonjo O'Neill sends the nine-year-old to Fairyhouse with a solid chance of taking the three miles, five furlong test on Monday, April 18.

The JP McManus-owned Time To Get Up didn't qualify for the Aintree Grand National this year but did finish third in the Midlands Grand National, after winning it in 2021, so staying shouldn't be a problem.

"I'm looking forward to it, he won a Midlands National at Uttoxeter so the trip won't be a problem and it's a lovely spare ride to pick up," said Power.

"He has an outside chance, the ground won't be an issue for him, so I think he will do OK."

The fact that Time To Get Up didn't go at Aintree is a plus for Power, with various horses trying to go for the Irish National after also running in the English marathon.

"I always think it is very hard to win an Irish Grand National as an afterthought, its usually a plan that is hatched at least a couple of months before," he explained.

"The likes of Enjoy D'allen, Mount Ida and Run Wild Fred were all trained for the English Grand National, it just didn't really happen for them on the day and it's very hard to bounce back, even if like some of them, they exited the race really early at Liverpool.

"The Irish Grand National is a race where you can make a case for a number of different horses, but Gaillard Du Mesnil is the one who ticks a lot of boxes.

"He's a novice, he was a dual Grade One-winning hurdler. His form over fences probably hasn't been what connections might have thought it would be at the beginning of the season, but he comes into this in decent form and he's the outstanding novice in the race that might have a bit up his sleeve."