It's all to play for in BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National

This year’s BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse promises to be another race to savour and perhaps one that could influence the destiny of the National Hunt trainers’ championship at the end of the season. 

A total of 84 entries are in for the €500,000 showpiece on Easter Monday, April 6. Gordon Elliott is responsible for 15 of those against 20 from Willie Mullins. 

Elliott leads Mullins by €376,000 in his quest for a first trainers’ title and the BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National, Ireland’s most valuable jumps race, could have a significant bearing on the destiny of the crown.

This is the most prestigious of handicaps, but one whose roll of honour has spread to ten different stables in its last dozen renewals.

For context, local Ratoath trainer Dermot McLoughlin won the race in 2021 and 2022 with 150-1 and 40-1 outsiders, Freewheeling Dylan and Lord Lariat, respectively.

The most recent seven winners also count British trainer Rebecca Curtis plus Tom Gibney, Willie Mullins (twice) and Gordon Elliott.

As such, a sense that anything can happen always surrounds the race, but this is balanced by five of the most recent eight winners all starting at single figure odds in the betting.

On this theme, BOYLE Sports have identified Oscars Brother, trained by Connor King, and Win Some Lose Some, trained by Padraig Roche, as the 10-1 ante-post joint favourites in a typically wide-open contest. Both carry the colours of JP McManus.

Oscars Brother very much caught the eye at Cheltenham last week when fourth in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase on ground he might have found a touch quick.

Win Some Lose Some has not been seen since finishing second in a Grade 3 at the Dublin Racing Festival.

BOYLE Sports have a host of possible runners on the next line of betting at 14-1, including Final Orders, winner of the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham last week for Gavin Cromwell.  

At the same price, Holloway Queen, successful in the National Hunt Chase at Prestbury Park for trainer Nicky Henderson, is one of eight entries from British stables. Another English-based winner at the Festival, Johnnywho, trained by Jonjo & AJ O’Neill, rates a 16-1 hope.

Last year’s winning trainer Rebecca Curtis may return from her Welsh base with Newton Tornado. English trainers Ben Pauling, Nick Gifford and James Owen have also submitted entries. 

Two former winners are also present: topweight is I Am Maximus, rated 167, while Intense Raffles looks well-handicapped on 10-04 if he could recover the spark that saw him prevail in 2024.

The Guinness Kerry National winner of 2025, Spanish Harlem, has an entry as has last year’s Scottish Grand National winner, Captain Cody, both trained by Willie Mullins.

This year’s Goffs Thyestes Chase one-two Now Is The Hour (trainer Gavin Cromwell) and Better Times Ahead (Robert Tyner), may also run. Other potentially significant runners of note include Hewick for Shark Hanlon, Flicker of Hope for trainer Mark Fahey and Grade 3 winner Blaze The Way for Mags Mullins.

Folly Master is another to look out for, trained by Tom Dreaper whose family success in race dates back to his father Jim and grandfather Tom winning it on 13 occasions. Folly Master is owned by Fairyhouse Easter Festival sponsors Declan and Elaine O'Farrell.

Brian O’Keeffe, Media Relations Manager for BOYLE Sports, said: “The BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National is always one of the highlights of the Irish racing calendar and this year’s renewal is shaping up to be another incredibly competitive contest.

“With the likes of Oscars Brother and Win Some Lose Some heading the early betting, alongside strong entries from leading trainers on both sides of the Irish Sea, we can’t wait to see it all unfold on Easter Monday.”

John Sheridan, General Manager of Fairyhouse Racecourse said: ‘’We are hugely excited for this year’s BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National with a very strong set of 84 entries in for the race. 

"It is also really encouraging to see eight UK based runners in the current list of entries, following Haiti Couleurs’ brilliant win 12 months ago. 

“It’s also great that a number of Cheltenham Festival winners and placed horses wish to come to Fairyhouse, underlining the strength of the race. 

“There is a fantastic three days of racing to look forward to over the Easter weekend with plenty of Graded action each day, culminating in the BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National and we are really looking forward to a tremendous festival.”