The crowd at Tipperary racecourse last Saturday doubled on its average with crowds coming to see Rachael Blackmore fresh from her Cheltenham triumphs.
There is a massive sense of excitement about seeing the equine stars turning out at Punchestown at the end of next month and Fairyhouse is also looking forward to a bumper crowd for the Boylesports Irish Grand National on Easter Monday.
Racing is riding the crest of a wave.
A trio of last week’s Cheltenham Festival winners and three horses from the local stable of last year’s race-winning trainer Dermot McLoughlin head the entries for the big race at Fairyhouse in a little over four weeks’ time.
McLoughlin’s Freewheelin Dylan, owned by Sheila Mangan, became the longest priced winner in the history of Ireland’s greatest steeplechase with his 150/1 success under Ricky Doyle in the race 12 months ago and he features among the 93 entries for the latest renewal which will be the 150th running of the race. He rates as a 25/1 with the race sponsors this time.
The Ratoath trainer has also entered his dual course winner Lord Lariat (50/1) and Opposites Attract (40/1) while last week’s Cheltenham Festival winners Delta Work and Stattler, the early 9/1 favourite with BoyleSports, have their place on strong squads from the stables of Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins respectively.
Elliott’s 24
Elliott boasts an entry of 24 horses, by far the largest of any trainer, and along with his Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase winner, he has also put the Cheltenham Gold Cup fourth and top-weight Galvin in the race. The stable’s Farouk D’Alene, hot on the heels of the leaders when falling at the second last fence in the Brown Advisory Novices´ Chase, is an early 12/1 joint second favourite in the betting. Elliott’s Farclas is one of five horses on the 14/1 mark while last year’s BoyleSports Irish Grand National runner-up and last week’s Cheltenham runner-up Run Wild Fred is among those on offer at odds of 16/1. Previous Fairyhouse winner Mount Ida is another early 16/1 chance.
For his part, Mullins has made 16 entries with ante-post favourite Stattler, one of his record-breaking 10 Cheltenham Festival winners last week, and the conqueror of Run Wild Fred in the National Hunt Chase, heading the Closutton team.
Burrows Saint gave Mullins his first win in the race when leading home a 1-2-3 for the stable in 2019 and is a 25/1 chance for a repeat success. The novices Gaillard Du Mesnil and Capodanno are early 14/1 chances with Franco De Port next best of the champion trainer’s entries at 20/1.
Corach Rambler is a 14/1 chance to add the BoyleSports Irish Grand National to last week’s Ultima Handicap Chase win under County Sligo’s Derek Fox and he heads a British entry of six.
Henry de Bromhead has entered five horses and among the quintet are last year’s Aintree Grand National hero Minella Times and the two-time Fairyhouse winner Court Maid which is a new recruit for the yard since chasing home subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Elimay at Naas last month. She is another 20/1 chance. Rachael Blackmore will likely take the ride on one of these, and probably vie for favouritism under the weight of popular support.
Greats
“You only have to look back at the list of previous winners, which includes greats like Arkle and Desert Orchid, to get a flavour of just how iconic the BoyleSports Irish Grand National is,” said Leon Blanch of the race sponsors.
“We are very proud and privileged to sponsor this landmark occasion of the 150th running of the race and with a €500,000 prize pot on offer, the most lucrative on the Irish National Hunt calendar, we are relishing another thrilling renewal at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.”
“Last year’s success for Dermot McLoughlin and Sheila Mangan was very much one for the locals and we are delighted to see Freewheelin Dylan among a very strong entry for the 150th running of the BoyleSports Irish Grand National,” added Racecourse Manager Peter Roe.
“The fine tradition of the race and what it means to our neighbouring communities is what makes Easter Monday at Fairyhouse such a special occasion. It will mean so much to the team here to be able to welcome an Irish Grand National crowd back to the racecourse for the first time since 2019 and we can’t wait for Easter Monday to come around.”
