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Irish Grand National Guide
The Irish Grand National is the last of the four ‘nationals’ run annually in the United Kingdom. Run on Easter Monday, the Irish Grand National is Ireland’s biggest national hunt steeplechase, and attracts the finest 5 year old and older racehorses in the sport.
Run at Fairyhouse racecourse in the Republic of Ireland, the Irish Grand National is run over a distance of 3 miles 5 furlongs. It is not only the shortest of the nationals, but also features the most obstacles, with horses required to clear 25 fences during the course of the race.
The first Irish Grand National was run in 1870 at its present location, Fairyhouse. The race was amongst the first attempts to organise and regulate steeplechases in Ireland, and paid a prize of 167 sovereigns to the first winner – Sir Robert Peele.
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Irish Grand National Betting
The Irish Grand National is one of the biggest horseracing events in the Emerald Isles, and attracts massive interest from punters and sportsbooks alike. Top Irish sportsbook Paddy Power offers specials for the race, and punters can access Irish Grand National ante-post betting markets well in advance of the event.
It is not unusual for Grand National runners to appear in, and win, the Irish Grand National, with many of these runners priced well in the race. Several top national hunt racehorses may also defect from the Aintree Grand National every season in favour of a run at the Irish Grand National.
In recent years weight has emerged as the most important factor in determining runners’ prospects in the Irish Grand National. Nine of the last ten winners were weighted under 10 stone 8 pounds in the handicap, and the last horse to win at the top weight of 12 stone was the brilliant Desert Orchid in 1990.
Age plays a relatively minor role in the outcome of the Irish Grand National. Although most of the Irish Grand National winners range between 7 and 9 years of age, older horses do win the race intermittently, with 5 runners aged 10 and over winning the Irish Grand National during the past two decades.
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Irish Grand National Winners
The Irish Grand National winners’ boards read like a who’s-who of national hunt greats. Some of the biggest names in the history of the sport have claimed honours at the Irish Grand National, including Arkle, Flyingbolt, Desert Orchid and Bobbyjo.
No trainer has managed to dominate the Irish Grand National in recent years. The national hunt racing’s top trainers, including Jonjo O’Neill, Mouse Morris, Noel Meade, Martin Pipe and David Elsworth, each managed to saddle only one Irish Grand National winner during the past twenty years.
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