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"Game over" for Intense Raffles from start of National, says Gibney
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Wed 9 Apr 2025
Trainer Tom Gibney is in no rush to commit to future plans with Intense Rafflesfollowing his disappointing trip to Aintree for the Randox Grand National.
Last season’s Irish Grand National hero was ante-post favourite for the world’s most famous steeplechase a few weeks ago, having bounced back from two ordinary runs over hurdles with a fine effort to finish a close second to Nick Rockett in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February.
But while Nick Rockett claimed Grand National glory in the hands of record-breaking amateur Patrick Mullins, Intense Raffles was on the back foot from flag-fall and was eventually pulled up by J J Slevin after jumping 17 of the 30 fences.
“He’s come back OK, he’s fine,” said Gibney.
“It just went wrong from the start for me. He threw his head up at the tape actually and took a step back and was left at the start and that was it – game over.”
Intense Raffles again holds an entry in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National on Easter Monday. When asked whether he could reappear at Fairyhouse on April 21, his trainer added: “I don’t know, we’ll see how he is. We’ll just get him going again at some point and see.”
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