Huge local interest in stellar line-up for Irish Grand National

11 British entries set for Fairyhouse on Easter Monday

There are 11 British entries among a list of 86 for Ireland's richest jumps race - the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, 21st April next.

Among the British raiders is expected to be Haiti Couleurs, who won the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and afterwards trainer Rebecca Curtis immediately nominated the Easter Monday showpiece as her preferred next port of call.

Haiti Couleurs has been allocated 10st and is one of four 2025 Cheltenham Festival winners who could show up for the Easter Monday feature, as Glenfarclas Cross Country winner Stumptown (10st 8lb), the Paul Nolan-trained Daily Present (9st 10lb), who swooped late to land the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase and Sam Curling’s St James's Place festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase winner Wonderwall (9st 9lb) have also been entered in the 3m 5f contest which has a prize pool of €500,000, with €270,000 of that going to the winner.

The last overseas winner of the race was Shutthefrontdoor, who broke Barry Geraghty's duck in 2014, and his trainer Jonjo O'Neill, now jointly at the helm with son AJ, has entered Kim Muir runner-up Johnnywho (10st 5lb) and Hasthing (9st 5lb) in the race 11 years on from his famous triumph.

Iroko (10st 11lb) would be a very interesting contender for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero should he take up the engagement, while Olly Murphy has entered the novice Resplendent Grey (9st 13lb). Ben Pauling could go in search of a first victory on Irish soil with Henry's Friend (10st 2lb).

There is huge quality among the entries this year as last year's Grand National hero I Am Maximus heads the weights with 11st 12lb (rated 167). He, of course, won the Irish equivalent in 2023 under an inspired Paul Townend steer.

Defending champion Intense Raffles, who is ante-post favourite for the Aintree spectacular on Saturday week, could try to retain his crown after being handed 11st 1lb, his mark of 156 is 11lb higher than when landing the spoils for JJ Slevin and Trim trainer Tom Gibney 12 months ago. This year, Tom could be relying on the unexposed Kinturk Kalanisi (9st 8lb) to give him his third BoyleSports Irish Grand National.

The BoyleSports Irish Grand National is one of very few big races which still elude Balrath's Gavin Cromwell and the Gold Cup-winning trainer has no fewer than 11 entries in an attempt to open his account in the biggest race at his local track.

As well as the aforementioned Stumptown (10st 8lb), Cromwell has also entered Paddy Power Chase winner Perceval Legallois (10st 12lb), exciting mare Bioluminescence (10st 4lb), Velvet Elvis (10st 5lb), Malina Girl (10st 1lb), Yeah Man (10st 1lb), Now Is The Hour (10st), Mint Boy (9st 10lb), Final Orders (9st 8lb), Noble Birth (9st 5lb), Union Station (8st 11lb).

Willie Mullins had to wait until Burrows Saint in 2019 to open his BoyleSports Irish Grand National account but, after I Am Maximus swooped late two years ago, he is now seeking a third success in six runnings. The Closutton maestro has a staggering 22 entries, including the classy Grade 1-winning novice Impaire Et Passe (10st 12lb) who didn't make the trip across the Irish Sea for Cheltenham in favour of waiting for some of the spring targets over here. Dancing City (10st 10lb) is another interesting entrant from Mullins.

Longwood's Gordon Elliott, whose sole success in the race arrived in 2018 with General Principle, is responsible for 13 of the entries. Better Days Ahead (10st 13lb), who finished third in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham tops his list.

Lord Lariat, the second of two winners in a row for Ratoath-based Dermot McLoughlin in 2022 after Freewheelin Dylan at 150-1 the previous year, has been allocated 9st 11lb, which means off 138 he is only 1lb higher than when landing the spoils three years ago.

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup third Gentlemansgame (11st 5lb) has been given a fascinating entry by Mouse Morris following his fine effort behind Inothewayurthinkin and Galopin Des Champs.

Morris won the race as a jockey back in 1977 on Billycan and has twice trained the winner - Hear The Echo (2008) and Rogue Angel (2016).

“I am delighted with the depth and quality of entries for this year’s BoyleSports Irish Grand National," said Peter Roe, general manager of Fairyhouse.

"It is great to have the previous three winners of the race, four winners from this year’s Cheltenham festival and 11 UK-trained horses.

"There is a great depth of the top novice chasers from this year entered and I am really looking forward to another fascinating renewal of Ireland’s greatest chase.

“This year’s Easter festival is shaping up well and bookings are very strong with a lot of hospitality already sold out so I would encourage anyone who is planning to come to our Easter festival to visit our website and book now to avail of discount prices.”

“We are delighted to have such a strong book of entries ahead of this year’s BoyleSports Irish Grand National and it promises to be another thrilling renewal of Ireland’s richest jumps race. The betting is wide open which is a testament to the competitiveness of the race and that’s what the Irish National is all about,” added Sharon McHugh, head of PR & sponsorship for BoyleSports.

Click here for the BoyleSports Irish Grand National entries at weights

BoyleSports Irish Grand National odds

8/1 Haiti Couleurs

12/1 Better Days Ahead

12/1 Now Is The Hour

14/1 Daily Present

14/1 High Class Hero

14/1 Intense Raffles

14/1 Johnnywho

14/1 Quai De Bourbon

16/1 Bioluminescence

16/1 Captain Cody

16/1 Chosen Witness

16/1 Dancing City

16/1 Hasthing

16/1 I Am Maximus

16/1 Impaire Et Passe

16/1 Iroko

16/1 Kinturk Kalanisi

16/1 Nick Rockett

16/1 Perceval Legallois

16/1 Stumptown

16/1 Wonderwall

20/1 Aworkinprogress

20/1 Duffle Coat

20/1 Gentlemansgame

20/1 Loughglynn

20/1 Malina Girl

20/1 Meetingofthewaters

20/1 Minella Cocooner

20/1 Monbeg Park

20/1 Olympic Man

20/1 Panda Boy

20/1 Resplendent Grey

20/1 The Short Go

20/1 Three Card Brag

25/1 Any Second Now

25/1 Bushmans Pass

25/1 Canal End

25/1 Favori De Champdou

25/1 Grangeclare West

25/1 Harry Des Ongrais

25/1 Kilcruit

25/1 Mint Boy

25/1 O’Connell

25/1 Sa Majeste

25/1 Sequestered

25/1 Shecouldbeanything

25/1 Val Dancer

25/1 Will Do

25/1 Yeah Man

33/1 Fortunedefortunata

33/1 Henry’s Friend

33/1 Herakles Westwood

33/1 Macdermott

33/1 Noble Birth

33/1 Outside The Door

33/1 Search For Glory

33/1 Union Station

33/1 Velvet Elvis

40/1 Busselton

40/1 Desertmore House

40/1 Fil Dor

40/1 Judicieuse Allen

40/1 Macs Charm

50/1 A Penny A Hundred

50/1 Another Choice

50/1 Brandt

50/1 Cleatus Poolaw

50/1 Dunboyne

50/1 Final Orders

50/1 Iris Emery

50/1 Jumping Jet

50/1 Klarc Kent

50/1 Lord Lariat

50/1 Paggane

50/1 Prince Palace

50/1 Roi Mage

50/1 Spanish Harlem

50/1 Stuzzikini

50/1 Tullybeg

66/1 Banjaxed

66/1 Chigorin

66/1 History Of Fashion

66/1 Inis Oirr

66/1 Jody Ted

66/1 Moonovercloon

66/1 The Gradual Slope