The Boylesports Irish Grand National was officially launched yesterday under the tagline of the “Race of the People”.
The Dundalk based betting company has come on board as sponsor of the race that stands head and shoulders above others in Irish racing as the most watched with 450,000 viewers tuning into last years’s Easter Monday race.
The launch of this year’s event took place at the Mullingar stables of Dot Love who trained last year’s winner Liberty Counsel at odds of 50/1. Prize money for the race will be €250,000 making it the most valuable jump race on the Irish calendar.
Two names that have yet to appear on the race’s roll of honour are Champion Trainer Willie Mullins and this year’s Cheltenham and Aintree star jockey Barry Geraghty.
“This is special as I have been coming to the race since I was a child,” said Geraghty. “I haven’t got a booked ride in the race this year but I hope there will be some offers on the table.”
“We are delighted with the entries for the first running of the Boylesports Irish Grand National, added Fairyhouse General Manager Peter Roe.
“This is an exciting new sponsorship deal and we look forward to working with them in developing the race and the weekend. We’re hugely excited by what will be a high-class field and that this will be our best Easter Festival ever.”
“This is an exciting new sponsorship for Boylesports and it is a privilege to be associated with Ireland’s most prestigious premier handicap chase,” said Head of Communications for Boylesports, Leon Blanche. “After great Cheltenham and Aintree festivals for Irish contenders, the quality and depth to this year’s field has the ingredients for a vintage renewal. We’ve entered a golden era for the Irish National Hunt racing and some of the jewels in our crown will be on show in the Boylesports Irish Grand National.”
