There are 11 British entries among a stellar list of 86 for Ireland’s richest jumps race – the BoyleSports Irish Grand National on Easter Monday, April 21st.
Among them is pre-race favourite Haiti Couleurs, who won the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, after which trainer Rebecca Curtis immediately nominated the Easter Monday showpiece at Fairyhouse as her preferred next port of call.
Haiti Couleurs has been allocated 10st and is one of four 2025 festival winners who could show up at Fairyhouse on April 21 as Glenfarclas Cross Country winner Stumptown (10st 8lb) , the Paul Nolan-trained Daily Present (9st 10lb), who swooped late to land the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase and Sam Curling’s St James’s Place festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase winner Wonderwall (9st 9lb) have also been entered in the 3m 5f contest which has a prize pool of €500,000, with €270,000 of that going to the winner.
The last overseas winner of the race was Shutthefrontdoor, who broke Barry Geraghty’s duck in 2014. His trainer Jonjo O’Neill, now jointly at the helm with son AJ, has entered Kim Muir runner-up Johnnywho (10st 5lb) and Hasthing (9st 5lb) in the race 11 years after his famous triumph.
Iroko (10st 11lb) would be an exciting contender for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero should he take up the engagement, while Olly Murphy has entered the novice Resplendent Grey (9st 13lb). Ben Pauling could go in search of a first victory on Irish soil with Henry’s Friend (10st 2lb).
There is huge quality among the entries this year as last year’s Grand National hero I Am Maximus heads the weights with 11st 12lb (rated 167). He, of course, won the Irish equivalent in 2023 under an inspired Paul Townend steer.
Defending champion Intense Raffles, who is ante-post favourite for the Aintree spectacular on Saturday week, could try to retain his crown after being handed 11st 1lb, his mark of 156 is 11lb higher than when landing the spoils for JJ Slevin and Tom Gibney 12 months ago. This year, Tom could be relying on the unexposed Kinturk Kalanisi (9st 8lb) to give him his third BoyleSports Irish Grand National.
The BoyleSports Irish Grand National is one of very few big races which still elude Gavin Cromwell and the Gold Cup-winning trainer has no fewer than 11 entries in an attempt to open his account in the biggest race at his local track.
As well as the aforementioned Stumptown (10st 8lb), Cromwell has also entered Paddy Power Chase winner Perceval Legallois (10st 12lb), exciting mare Bioluminescence (10st 4lb), Velvet Elvis (10st 5lb), Malina Girl (10st 1lb), Yeah Man (10st 1lb), Now Is The Hour (10st), Mint Boy (9st 10lb), Final Orders (9st 8lb), Noble Birth (9st 5lb), Union Station (8st 11lb).
Willie Mullins had to wait until Burrows Saint in 2019 to open his BoyleSports Irish Grand National account but, after I Am Maximus swooped late two years ago, he is now seeking a third success in six runnings. The Closutton maestro has a staggering 22 entries, including the classy Grade 1-winning novice Impaire Et Passe (10st 12lb) who didn’t make the trip across the Irish Sea for Cheltenham in favour of waiting for some of the spring targets over here. Dancing City (10st 10lb) is another interesting entrant from Mullins.
Gordon Elliott, whose sole success in the race arrived in 2018 with General Principle, is responsible for 13 of the entries. Better Days Ahead (10st 13lb), who finished third in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham tops his list.
Lord Lariat, the second of two winners in a row for locally-based Dermot McLoughlin in 2022 after Freewheelin Dylan at 150-1 the previous year, has been allocated 9st 11lb, which means off 138 he is only 1lb higher than when landing the spoils three years ago.
Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup third Gentlemansgame (11st 5lb) has been given a fascinating entry by Mouse Morris following his fine effort behind Inothewayurthinkin and Galopin Des Champs. Morris won the race as a jockey back in 1977 on Billycan and has twice trained the winner – Hear The Echo (2008) and Rogue Angel (2016).
“We are delighted to have such a strong book of entries ahead of this year’s BoyleSports Irish Grand National and it promises to be another thrilling renewal of Ireland’s richest jumps race,” said Sharon McHugh, Head of PR and Sponsorship for BoyleSports.
“The betting is wide open which is a testament to the race’s competitiveness and that’s what the Irish National is all about.”
“I am delighted with the depth and quality of entries for this year’s race,” added Peter Roe, General Manager of Fairyhouse.
“It is great to have the previous three winners of the race, four winners from this year’s Cheltenham festival and 11 UK-trained horses. There is a great depth of the top novice chasers from this year entered and I am really looking forward to another fascinating renewal of Ireland’s greatest chase, The BoyleSports Irish Grand National which goes to post at 5pm on Easter Monday, April 21.”
“This year’s Easter festival is shaping up well and bookings are very strong with a lot of hospitality already sold out so I would encourage anyone who is planning to come to our Easter festival to visit our website and book now to avail of discount prices.”
Further Reading for Sport for Business members: Fairyhouse Joins the 100 Million Trees Sustainability Project
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
The Fairyhouse Easter Festival is always a fun event to attend with the atmosphere as good as you would find at any sporting venue. Being later in the calendar this year, the hope has to be for blue skies and sunshine, as well as top class sport and entertainment.
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The Fairyhouse Easter Festival takes place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the Easter weekend.
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