€500,000 prizefund for Boylesports Irish Grand National

The Boylesports-sponsored Irish Grand National received a huge boost in prizemoney when it was announced yesterday that the value of the feature event at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival will rise from €275,000 up to €500,000 with the winner of the 2017 set to receive more than the total prize fund from the 2016 race.

Management at the famous racing venue in Ratoath received a further boost as Boylesports have renewed their sponsorship of the race for a further three years beyond their original partnership which will also see them continue to provide an oncourse betting shop st the venue.

Combined with increased funding from Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and Fairyhouse Racecourse itself the Irish National now becomes the most valuable jumps race in Ireland and the third biggest between Ireland and the UK.

Next year’s race will take place on Easter Monday during the Easter weekend (16th-18th April).

“If the Church could fix Good Friday for a date in early April annually it would be a big help,” quipped Fairyhouse manager Peter Roe at yesterday’s launch in a reference that for 2017 the race will take place on Easter Monday 17th April, a month after the Cheltenham Festival.

“We are so happy that this globally renowned race with such a long and illustrious history is now a huge rival to the greatest national hunt races today and the €500,000 prize fund places us up there with the likes of the Cheltenham Gold Cup,” added the Fairyhouse manager.

The launch was attended by top Meath trainers Noel Meade and Gordon Elliott along with recently-retired jockey Paul Carberry who provided the action for the photographers out on the track.

“I remember going to Fairyhouse on Grand National day when I was only seven or eight, it was a family day out, I remember having a bet of six pence, that’s how long it was, but I was a big fan of Tom Dreaper and his winners in the race were memorable,” commented Noel Meade.

“I felt very proud the day I won the race with The Bunny Bolier, he nearly fell at the last but Ross Geraghty somehow managed to stay on board, great memories and a great race,” he added.

“We are delighted not only to continue our sponsorship of the Boylesports Irish Grand National but to help make this the most valuable event in the Irish racing calendar,” commented Boylesports director of retail Jenna Boyle.

“Irish owners do not need any incentive to take part in this iconic event, but the significantly-increased sponsorship will add to the international prestige of the event and in particular, should assist in attracting more UK owners across the Irish Sea in their pursuit of winning the jewel in the crown of the Irish National Hunt calendar,” she added.

The Boylesports-sponsored Irish Grand National with a prizefund of €500,000 now ranks third in terms of prizemoney behind the Aintree Grand National (€1,190,000) and the Cheltenham Gold Cup (€685,000) and ahead of both the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle and the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

This year’s Irish Grand National was won by Rogue Angel, ridden by Ardcath jockey Ger Fox.

PRIZEMONEY COMPARISON STATISTICS

English Grand National €1,190,000

Cheltenham Gold Cup €685,000

Irish Grand National €500,000

Cheltenham Champion Hurdle €476,400

Queen Mother Champion Chase €417,000

Galway Hurdle €300,000

Ryanair Chase €328,000

World Hurdle €328,000

Betfair Chase Haydock €240,000

King George Kempton €240,000

Galway Plate €220,000

Punchestown Gold Cup €200,000

Punchestown Ch’ Hurdle €200,000

Welsh Grand National €143,000

Scottish Grand National €143,000

IRISH GRAND NATIONAL

                   2016     2017
PrizeFund €275,000 €500,000

Winner    €152,000  €275,000
Second     €55,000   €100,000
Third        €27,500   €50,000
Fourth      €13,750   €25,000
Fifth           €8,250   €15,000
Sixth          €5,500    €10,000
Seventh     €2,750     €7,500
Eighth       €2,750      €7,500
Ninth         €2,750     €5,000
Tenth        €2,750      €5,000

 

PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW THE FOLLOWING

Main Photo: Peter Roe, General Manager of Fairyhouse, Paul Carberry with Dougie and Jenna Boyle, Head of Retail with Boylesports. Photo:INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Peter Roe, General Manager of Fairyhouse, Jenna Boyle, Head of Retail with Boylesports, Joe Keeling, Chairman of HRI and Gordon Elliott. Photo:INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Paul Carberry with his daughter. Photo: Meath Chronicle.

Noel Meade, Gordon Elliott and Leon Blanche. Photo: Meath Chronicle.

Peter Roe. Photo: Meath Chronicle.

Paul Carberry cleaing €500,000 on the track. Photo:INPHO/Ryan Byrne