Dermot McLoughlin has made three entries as he bids to become the first trainer in almost half a century to win the BoyleSports Irish Grand National for the third successive year at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, April 10.
McLoughlin’s late father Liam rode the Tom Dreaper-trained Kerforo to win the race in 1962 and the Ratoath trainer cemented the family name in the rich history of the Easter extravaganza when taking the latest renewals with Freewheelin Dylan and Lord Lariat respectively.
In his bid to emulate trainer Jim Dreaper, who won successive Irish Grand Nationals with Colebridge in 1974, and with Brown Lad in both 1975 and 1976, McLoughlin has entered last year’s 40/1 hero Lord Lariat, Captain CJ and The Echo Boy for the €500,000 spectacular in just five weeks’ time.
Lord Lariat is a 20/1 chance with race sponsors BoyleSports for a repeat victory on the back of his run over hurdles at Leopardstown yesterday.
They make Ain’t That A Shame, Gaillard Du Mesnil and Panda Boy their 12/1 co-favourites for the race. Ain’t That A Shame took the runner-up spot in the Munster National at Limerick in October and ran another big race at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and his trainer Henry de Bromhead has also entered Gabbys Cross (20/1), Amirite (25/1), Royal Thief (25/1) and Shantreusse (33/1).
Third in the race last year and a subsequent Grade 1 winner at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, Gaillard Du Mesnil heads an entry of 14 horses for Willie Mullins. The highest-rated of the champion trainer’s team is Cheltenham Gold Cup contender Stattler (20/1) and also to be found towards the top of the early handicap are Closutton stalwarts Carefully Selected (14/1), Franco De Port (25/1) and Burrows Saint (25/1), which gave Mullins his only win in the race and led home a 1-2-3 for the stable in 2019. Mr Incredible (16/1), Tenzing (16/1) and the novice Adamantly Chosen (20/1) are three more with leading chances for the champion trainer.
Martin Brassil saddled Numbersixvalverde to win the BoyleSports Irish Grand National in 2005 and his Panda Boy is topping the early betting for this year’s renewal. He was another to have run a huge race at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival but will need to bounce back from an early fall at the same track on Sunday.
Few trainers have their horses in better form than Gavin Cromwell and his Stumptown is only a 14/1 chance after notching up impressive wins at Thurles and Sandown in recent weeks. Another at the same price with BoyleSports is Thedevilscoachman which was a Grade 3 novice chase winner at Naas at the end of January. His trainer Noel Meade also includes Sunday’s Leopardstown winner Lieutenant Command (33/1) among his five entries.
“BoyleSports is incredibly privileged and proud to continue to sponsor the Irish Grand National,” said Sharon McHugh, Head of Communications and Sponsorship for BoyleSports.
“It’s such an iconic race and with a prize pot of €500,000, attracts all the top trainers and horses of such a high calibre.”
“What I think racing fans love most about the BoyleSports Irish Grand National though is its ability to throw up a surprise on the day. Over the years we’ve seen some great wins from local trainers and just two years ago we saw the largest priced winner in Freewheelin Dylan at 150/1, so it really is all to race for at Fairyhouse this Easter Monday.”
“It is great to have another top-class entry for this year’s Boylesports Irish Grand National,” added Fairyhouse Manager Peter Roe.
“The entry features a host of Grade 1 winners headed by dual Grade 1 winner and leading Gold Cup fancy Conflated for Gordon Elliott and Michael O’Leary, while there are also two previous winners of the race in Lord Lariat and Burrows Saint entered. It is good to see six English trained entries headed by Royale Pagaille for Venetia Williams.”
“We are delighted to be back here in Dermot McLoughlin’s yard for the launch of the weights as he bids for a three-in-a-row following his successes with Freewheelin Dylan and Lord Lariat. We are looking forward to an exciting Easter Festival from April 8 to 10 which will culminate with the 151st running of the Boylesports Irish Grand National at 5pm on Easter Monday.”
