Bobbyjo Chase 2026 Preview: Key Runners and Tips for Fairyhouse Feature

A race that has become one of the biggest pointers to Grand Nationals on either side of the Irish Sea, the Bobbyjo Chase is the sole race from Fairyhouse set to be broadcast tomorrow on ITV Racing. There are staying chasers with star quality aplenty in the field, so without further ado here's Billy Grimshaw's preview...

With Nick Rockett winning this race before scoring at Aintree in 2025 and I Am Maxmius completing the same double a year ago, it is no surprise to see a stellar field of contenders from Closutton and elsewhere using this Bobbyjo Chase of 2026 as a prep for the Grand National in April. A Grade 3 contest set to be run on heavy ground after the horrifically wet winter we've all endured in Britain and Ireland, this will not be a race for the faint of heart.

Three miles two is not the same level of stamina test as the Grand National, albeit nothing really is, but with the ground favouring mudlarks expect no hiding place and with that knowledge in my back pocket, I am going to abandon Spanish Harlem despite my thinking that he has a huge chance in the Grand National come April. All his best form has come on good or good to soft ground and while it would not be out of the realms of possibility for this horse, who finds ways to lose races as he did in the Thyestes, to run a great race in the mud his price makes limited appeal given conditions are against him.

Grangeclare West was my fancy for the 2025 Grand National and ran a screamer to finish in the money, but he is another I am happy to take on here. Stamina is no issue and he has some heavy ground form, but as a 3/1 favourite I'd want him to be coming in here in better form as a ten year old. He could only manage a laboured eighth in the Irish Gold Cup and wafching that race with a betslip for him in hand, I knew my fate a long way out. He seemed to lack the enthusiasm he's showed at Aintree and elsewhere and that is a worry with a veteran.

That's the first two in the market dismissed, then, and a couple of the Mullins quartet as well. This race is not all about the Closutton inmates, however, as Gordon Elliott sends a strong team headlined by Three Card Brag. He is one of those staying chasers who seems to have been around forever, so I was bemused to see he is still only eight, and he has a massive chance in here if he can get to the front and stretch the rest of them with his relentless galloping. His last run was a fine second place behind Panic Attack, and we all know what she has gone on to do so he rates the chief danger to my selection.

Jack Kennedy chooses him over Stellar Story, which to me is a tip in itself that the stable are confident Three Card Brag will handle the sloppy ground given Stellar Story is a known mud lover. The pair of Stellar Story and Lecky Watson, last season's Brown Advisory winner, have it all to do in here giving away eight and twelve pounds respectively to most of the field, but both could be interesting in the National down the line should we get a wet Aintree Festival.

Gold Cup second from two years ago Gerri Colombe. is also one of Elliott's entries. His trainer has made no secret that this lad's target for this season is Aintree and the Grand National and although he is ten, like Grangeclare West, he could still have a few big days left in him after having the full 2024 season off the track. I liked what I saw from him in the Galmoy Hurdle last time out, clearly an exploration run from the team to see what was left in the tank and he showed plenty of zest. He has a chance.

Clearly, this is a competitive race, but I am going to side with Mullins given he has won the last three renewals and the last one for me to mention is CAPTAIN CODY, who was another faller in the aforementioned Thyestes. He had a wonderful season last campaign, capped off by winning the Scottish Grand National, and while on any other surface I'd think he'll need further, with heavy ground I fancy he can grind his way to the front with Brian Hayes and stay there.

He was very well backed, into 7/2 favourite, before the Thyestes and that tells a story given connections. With his fall coming at the fifth fence, we have no idea how he'd have finished the race but I'd wager the team are happy with him given he's in here just a month later and I would put no one off backing him to win this and the Grand National if they spot any of those enhanced doubles.